As with any new technology, it’s important to weigh the pros and cons before deciding if AirTags are suitable for you.
On the one hand, they offer several convenient features, such as the ability to find your lost phone or laptop. They can also help you keep track of valuable items like your passport or keys. And since they rely on Bluetooth to communicate, there’s no need to worry about range limitations.
On the other hand, AirTags present a potential for abuse. For example, someone could use them to track your movements without your knowledge or consent.
Recent reports indicate that AirTags are also being used to stalk people secretly. KABC reports that recently, two California women received a notification on their phones informing them that an unknown AirTag was monitoring them. However, they were unable to find the tiny white device.
This is in addition to an Instagram post by model Brooks Nader, who stated that she was out and about in Manhattan when she received an alert that she was being tracked by an AirTag placed in her coat.
Since Apple released the devices a year ago, there have been additional reports of AirTags being concealed behind license plates to track drivers.
This issue is also not new. When AirTags was first released, privacy experts and tech journalists expressed concern that malicious persons could use them to track people without their knowledge.
Recently, Apple released the following statement:
“We take customer safety very seriously and are committed to AirTag’s privacy and security. AirTag is designed with proactive features to discourage unwanted tracking — a first in the industry — that inform users if an unknown AirTag might be with them and deter bad actors from using an AirTag for nefarious purposes.“
Here’s how to determine whether an AirTag is tracking you and how to disable it if you do.
Your iPhone will notify you if it detects nearby AirTags
AirTags communicate with Apple’s network of over 1 billion devices to function. Therefore, if an iOS device is close to your AirTag, it will be able to ping it and relay its location to your device, even if you do not own the tracker.
But this is also what makes it possible for people to use the tags for bad things. On the other hand, Apple has included security measures intended to alert you if someone is tracking you using an AirTag.
If you have an iOS device that has been updated to the latest release and it identifies an AirTag that does not belong to you, you will receive a notification. You can see how long it’s been with you and its route while with you from that point.
You can disable the AirTag from the notification so that it no longer tracks your location. If you believe you are being followed, you should also notify your local police department.
Try to hear a sound from the AirTag
AirTags are designed to chime when they have been out of the Bluetooth range of their owner for an extended time, and this typically occurs anywhere between eight and ten hours. Initially, Apple would only allow the AirTags to begin making loud sounds after 3 days, but the company lowered the threshold due to misuse concerns.
If you hear an AirTag chime, check your possessions and the nearby areas immediately to locate it. Or, use the Tracker Detect app (or a third-party Bluetooth scanner) on your Android device to scan for the unknown tracking device.
If you find an AirTag, you can view its serial number and the last four digits of the owner’s phone number by holding it next to your iPhone or Android. Take a picture, deactivate the AirTag, and notify local law enforcement if it is not marked as lost.
What if you don’t have an iPhone?
If you’re an Android user, Apple provides a great app called Tracker Detect which can help you spot AirTags. The app will play a sound to help you locate the AirTag, or wait 10 minutes, and it will show up on your phone’s map. Keep in mind that the Tracker Detect app is only for Android devices.
Another thing to keep in mind is that the Tracker Detect app can’t detect AirTags if they are within the Bluetooth range of the owner. So if you lose your AirTag at home and it’s close to you, chances are you won’t be able to find it with this app.
Finally, a critical note about Tracker Detect: it doesn’t feature invasive capabilities like scanning for AirTags on its own or detecting them if they are in close proximity to other users’ phones. It simply uses your device’s built-in Bluetooth signal to help track down lost items.
There are a few other options available for finding lost Bluetooth devices. “Find My Bluetooth Device” and “LightBlue” both provide signal strength meters that can come in handy when pinpointing a lost item’s location.
Keep an eye on new anti-tracking measures
As we all know, Apple has been at the forefront of developing new security features for its products. With the release of iOS 12 and macOS Mojave, they have included anti-tracking measures to prevent companies like Facebook and Google from following our every move. However, these measures are not perfect, and there are still ways to track users without their consent or knowledge.
Apple has, thankfully, been receptive to customer feedback. In subsequent updates, AirTags will chime louder and sooner; the Find My app will detect “silent” AirTags (devices with the audio disabled); Apple users with an iPhone 11 or later can use Precision Finding to locate unknown AirTags; etc.
Maintaining an up-to-date operating system on your iPhone and iPad will ensure you have access to the most recent anti-tracking features. You should periodically update the Tracker Detect Android app for new features, bug fixes, and other improvements if you have it installed.
On a more positive note, as a superior Apple product, AirTags have revealed that alternative Bluetooth trackers, such as Tile and Chipolo, can also be used for malicious purposes. This works out pretty well to create more effective countermeasures against espionage.
Infoceptor's editorial team handpicks all of the products and services it recommends, regardless of external influences. Affiliate links appear in some of our stories. We may receive an affiliate commission if you purchase something through one of these links, which helps us stay independent and support our great team.
