I’ve been using a Tile key tag for presence detection (arrive/leave home) and it’s worked perfectly for nearly 2 years.
Setup is 4 ESP32 boards detecting it → OpenMQTT → Node-RED → Matter → SmartThings + Apple Home.
I had read that some iBeacons randomize their MAC, but mine never did—until about 10 days ago. Now I’m seeing the MAC change roughly every 20 minutes, which breaks everything.
Nothing has changed on my side (OpenMQTT untouched for 6 months), so I’m wondering:
Did Tile push a firmware update enabling MAC randomization?
Has anyone else seen this recently?
Also, does anyone know of a keychain-style iBeacon that keeps a static MAC address?
I think that might have been the case, as there was a lot of vocal publicity about Tile at the end of last year
etc,
While Theengs Gateway does allow for random MAC address resolving, you would need the IRK (Identity Resolving Key) for your Tiles to do that. I’d contact Tile to ask about this, as you bought them when they had a static MAC address, and the new random MAC address does not allow you to use them as intended. You’ll see what they say
I personally also only use devices with random MAC addresses for privacy and security reasons, but ones which allow for me to access my own IRK, to allow for the MAC address resolving - an Apple Watch in. my case.
There are lots of very cheap alternatives of Bluetooth beacons with static MAC addresses in Chinese online stores for example, just be aware that most shops will also track you whenever you basset them and for how long, but they do not have the additional security issue of the Life360 network.
After elevating the question from AI Bot to human, to supervisor who said would reply by email, and after insisting for a second time their reply is
“Please be advise that we do not have a work around support regarding your concern. It’s outside of our scope and we would like to let you know that we improved product security and MAC rotation was part of that.”
Please be advised that your long overdue product security fix is greatly appreciated, but for me being able to continue using my existing Tiles, purchasing additional Tile products in the future and me not dissuading others from getting Tile products, it would not be a work around, but an existential integration to allow each owner to be able to view the Identity Resolving Key for the random MAC rotation - like other brands do.I honestly hope that these IRKs are individual to each Tile when paired with the app by the owner, or are you possibly using one single IRK for all Tile beacons - just waiting for the next Tile security dilemma happening?
That would be my reply to that kind of $*&% they wrote to you above
But it will probably be best and easiest for you to forget about them and look for alternatives from other companies.
Getting back to you here @DigiH as I’m still trying to find a robust, decent looking tag, available on the European market, for my purpose. Tried searching but can’t find this - would a Galaxy Smart Tag work here?
@Johnnybegoode I very much doubt it, as any newer and more expensive tag will most likely have randomly changing MAC addresses, like the Tiles after the firmware update.
I’m in Spain, but we can get anything that can be found on the European market, but not all the iBeacons you have access to in US.
I tried using a cheap fitness band also, (Huwei) but it only broadcasts while searching to pair with the iPhone and I’m imagining that most will be the same. I guess the variable MAC address will also become standard on all iBeacons in the end?
I also think that randomly changing MAC addresses are the future, as they assure privacy, while static MAC addresses mean that everyone else can track your presence’s as well.
If you do have an iPhone and ever think about getting an Apple Watch this would be your best bet in the future, it does have randomly changing MAC addresses, but allows for you, and only you, to know the Identity Resolving Key to track its presence. It is what I am using for Home/Away presence detection. It currently only working with Theengs Gateway though.
Or use your iPhone that way with Theengs Gateway.
As for cheap Bluetooth trackers, these should be fine, at least when I last checked them they had static MAC addresses. You don’t need to use its companion iOS app, but you also can. It allows for Home/Way presence detection, if they still have static MAC addresses, which I assume for that price, but does not allow for any network tracking like with the Tiles, AirTags etc.
Thanks for the reply, but I’m not quite sure what you mean. Do you mean using the iPhone itself for presence detection, rather than an Apple Watch? Or are you saying the iPhone can provide the same Identity Resolving Key approach as the Apple Watch?
Both the iPhone (or an iPad) as well as an Apple Watch can be used for presence detection with Theengs Gateway, with the Apple Watch having an additional security feature by also broadcasting its locked/unlock state.
Might you also have a Mac? As this is the easiest and quickest way to find out the IRKs for your devices. It’s also possible without a Mac, just a bit more involved.
