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Monday, 17 January 2022 19:43

Reports of Stalking Via Apple Airtags

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It seems that Apple may have an issue with their AirTags, the small tracking devices that use the Apple device network to help you find items that you have put trackers on. They are similar although much more effective than items like Tile. The problem is that since these trackers can ping out to any Apple device, there was a chance that they could be used for shady purposes. This possibility was brought up when they were launched and surprisingly, Apple listened. They added in methods to detect if someone is tracking you using an AirTag. True, not releasing something like this would have been better, but some protection is better than nothing.

Now there have been multiple confirmed cases of people using AirTags to stalk other people. Women have reported to the police that they have received notifications that they appear to be tracked by an AirTag that does not belong to them. The notification is one of the safeguards built into the iOS and the AirTag itself. They are also designed to make a noise when they are away from the person that is tracking them for more than 8-12 hours, although the noise is not loud. For Android users that might be concerned about this type of tracking there is an app intended to find these trackers and allows you to locate them and disable them.

This is not the first time, nor will it be the last, time that good intentioned developers have built something that has been used for nefarious purposes. It is always a good idea to do a little digging before buying into the latest convenience device or cool app that you find for your phone (iOS or Android). There are bad people out there and sadly what is a fun and handy feature for most people is a means to an end for them. We highly recommend getting the TrackerDetect app if you have an Android device and to pay attention to any notifications about unknown trackers if you have an Apple device.

If you find one of these trackers on you, regardless of how you find it, disable it and report it to the police. If you find one and are unsure of your surroundings or feel in danger, call the police and head to a well-lit public location (with lots of people present) and wait for help. Stay safe out there.

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Sean Kalinich

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