COVID-19 exposure notification alerts: How to opt-out on iPhone and Android
Apple and Google’s joint contact tracing program has finally launched to the world at large. And so far, it seems, the results are decidedly mixed.
Whether it’s due to low adoption rates or data security issues, contact-tracing apps just won’t seem to catch on among the general public. Tap or click here to see why some people fear these apps could lead to security trouble down the road.
But Apple and Google aren’t giving up on contact-tracing just yet. In fact, Apple is adding in a brand new exposure notification feature to iOS that doesn’t even require a third-party app to work. It’s all part of Apple’s latest iOS update, which you can download today. Here’s what we know.
Apple integrates new exposure notifications into iOS 13 update
Apple has officially launched the latest version of iOS 13, which includes an upgrade in the fight against COVID-19. Previously, iOS 13 only included the API that would handle third-party contact tracing apps pushed by local health authorities. But now, thanks to Apple’s update, iPhones can run exposure notifications without the need to download apps.
Per Apple’s new update, dubbed “Exposure Notifications Express,” health authorities are no longer obligated to design and develop apps to handle the exchange of COVID-19 notifications and exposure data. Instead, all they need to do is provide a configuration profile directly to Apple. The iPhone will handle the rest so long as exposure notifications are on and working.
Usually, when iPhones install a provisioning profile through a business or third-party, the profile is downloaded via a website. This will likely be the case as more states adopt this time-saving method of getting exposure notifications on more phones.
This option may seem like a positive development, but just because it’s coming from Apple and Google rather than directly from state health officials doesn’t make it any less risky for your privacy. Sure, you may not have half-hearted apps with weak security, but the very nature of the program means your phone is constantly swapping data with others.
Tap or click here for a quick rundown on the privacy risks of contact-tracing apps.
Do I have to opt out to keep my privacy?
There’s one bit of good news surrounding this update from Apple: iPhone owners are opted-out by default. If you want to use the feature, you have manually opt in and consent to your phone being used for contact-tracing.
If you want to opt-in, open your phone’s settings, tap General and download the update under Software Update. Upon rebooting, follow these steps to activate the feature:
How location tracking will work to tell you if you’ve been exposed to coronavirus
You’d probably never heard the terms “social distancing” and “flattening the curve” before March. Now, they’re everyday phrases in the fight against the coronavirus.
You can add “contact tracing” to your list of newfound medical terms. This method for slowing down the spread of disease is going high-tech with Apple and Google’s plan to turn your smartphone into a coronavirus tracker.