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.
