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If you believe your safety is at risk, Apple advises you to contact your local law enforcement, who can work with the company (you might need to provide the AirTag or its serial number).
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(Apple didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.) How can I protect myself from being tracked by AirTags? From a security perspective, it would be best to inform the user in a few hours, within a randomized time frame after the AirTag is connected. While the new, earlier alert sent to iPhone users is a good step, the 24-hour period it could take is still too long, Chebyshev added. "And the problem is that victims right now do not have an effective solution to this problem."
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But using a device like an AirTag to monitor someone's location could be a first stage of stalking, particularly if the abuser doesn't have physical access to your phone or laptop, said Victor Chebyshev, lead security researcher on the Global Research and Analysis Team at security firm Kaspersky.
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The release of a product like AirTags is in some ways similar to a new operating system, she added - Apple will find issues and then mitigate them in later updates, as we've already seen.ĪirTags are different from stalkerware, or software that someone installs on your device without your knowledge or consent that transmits your private information - like your text messages, social media communications and your location - to their device. "Abusive people will use any tactic they can to establish power and control so it's not uncommon for someone to be misusing a number of technologies and perpetrating non-tech-related abuse as well."Īpple has built in more protections to prevent AirTags from being used to track people.Īny time a new Internet of Things product is introduced, it's going to raise some red flags, said Zarmeena Waseem, director of cybersecurity education at the National Cybersecurity Alliance. "Technology doesn't cause abuse, but it can facilitate it," Olsen said. The privacy concerns around AirTags are part of a larger issue, Olsen said. With the update, that alarm will sound at a random time inside a window lasting between 8 and 24 hours. In December, Apple released the Tracker Detect app for Android, which lets you search for and track items compatible with Apple's Find My network, such as AirTags.Īpple also initially had AirTags make a noise if separated from their owner after three days. However, many have noted that those protections may not be enough to protect victims.Īt launch, these included a notification that says "AirTag Found Moving With You" - but only if you have an iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch running iOS or iPadOS 14.5 or later. Apple built in several safeguards to prevent the devices from being used to track people - an industry first. So what can you do to try to protect yourself from being tracked by an AirTag? New tech, same old privacy concernsĪirTags use a combination of sensors, wireless signals and Apple's extensive Find My network to help people locate lost items. We are concerned about all possible tracking options because of the safety risks." "Apple is getting a lot of attention because of the size of their network, which can make these devices more precise than other similar tracking devices. "Location tracking is a serious concern for survivors and a common tactic of abuse," said Erica Olsen, director of the Safety Net Project at the nonprofit National Network to End Domestic Violence. And unfortunately, there are few ways to detect if someone is using an AirTag (or any similar device, like a Tile or Samsung SmartTag tracker) to follow you. Apple's AirTag tracking devices promise to help you locate lost keys, bags or other items - but there's also a risk that someone could use one of the small discs to try to track you.Īpple has built-in certain protections to discourage unwanted tracking, but it's still possible for someone to slip an AirTag into your bag or car without your consent and track your location.