‘What the Tech?’: Apple AirTags
They are small, inexpensive, and designed to help you find lost keys, luggage, or even pets. But Apple AirTags are also showing up in police reports for the wrong reasons.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Department in Florida recently investigated a case where a couple was followed home and robbed. The office posted security video from the victim’s home on their Facebook Page. Officers say they found an AirTag taped underneath the couple’s car and believe the suspects planted it to track their location. Similar cases have been reported across the country involving ex-partners, spouses, or thieves who use the devices to follow victims.
Apple says misuse is rare, but hundreds of police reports across the country show how easy it can be for these devices to be abused. The company has added several safety features to protect people who might be unknowingly followed.
If you have an iPhone, you are already protected. When an AirTag that does not belong to you appears to be moving with you for a period of time, your phone will display a message that says “AirTag Found Moving With You.”
You can tap that alert to make the tag play a sound so you can locate it. You can also disable the AirTag right from your screen.
For Android users, the process takes a little more effort. Google now includes a setting called Unknown Tracker Alerts in newer versions of Android, and Apple offers a free app called Tracker Detect. Both can help identify AirTags that might be nearby, although alerts may take time to appear.
If you ever get one of these notifications, do not ignore it. Move to a safe place and call police. Officers can trace every AirTag back to its registered Apple ID. It is also a good idea to occasionally check your car and bags for anything that does not belong to you. AirTags are about the size of a quarter and easy to hide.
It is also important to know that using an AirTag to track someone without their knowledge is illegal. Every state has laws that prohibit electronic stalking and harassment. Police can trace each AirTag back to the person who registered it, and Apple cooperates with investigators when these cases occur.
Apple and Google continue to update their software to make alerts faster and more reliable. Even so, it is a good reminder that helpful technology can be used in harmful ways. Knowing how to recognize a tracking alert and what to do next can make all the difference.
