By now you probably know what an AirTag is. These are small devices that can be attached to various items and tracked using the Find My app on an iPhone or iPad. They are designed to help people locate their lost or misplaced belongings, such as the couple who traveled to Florida and recovered their AirTagged luggage with their wedding clothes, rings, and gifts, or the Australian whose surfboard was swept away and washed up on a nearby island. PS: He rented a boat to retrieve it.
But some people have also used them to find other people, either with or without their consent. How do you know if someone is tracking you?
Could Someone Tag You & Follow You Home?
That’s what happened to Sports Illustrated model, Kelsey Merritt. She was allegedly stalked by someone who planted an AirTag on her at a bar in New York City. She noticed a notification on her iPhone that an unknown AirTag was moving with her and followed her home. She was able to remove the AirTag from her purse, and reported the incident to the police, as reported by NBC News.
AirTags Are Small And Can Fit In Unsuspecting Places
A woman in Australia named Ashleigh Freckleton was alerted by her iPhone that an unknown AirTag was tracking her after she left a shopping mall. She found the AirTag hidden inside a tissue box that she had bought at a store. She suspected that someone had tampered with the box and placed the AirTag inside it.
AirTags Have Helped Reunite Family Members
A man in Texas named David Pogue used an AirTag to find his son, who had gone missing after a car accident. He attached the AirTag to his son’s keychain and tracked him using the Find My app. He found his son at a hospital, where he had been taken by an ambulance.
AirTags & Kidnappers?
We found a story of a Californian woman named Jennifer Tilly (not the actress), who supposedly used an AirTag to find her husband, who had been kidnapped by a gang of criminals. She attached the AirTag to his wallet and tracked him using the Find My app. She contacted the police and gave them the location of the kidnappers’ hideout. We could not corroborate the story, and we suppose if your spouse were involved with gang activities, that AirTags are the least of the security measures you should be considering.
Please, Don’t Do This
A man in Japan named Hiroshi Sato used an AirTag to find his girlfriend, who had broken up with him and moved out of their apartment. He secretly placed the AirTag in her suitcase and tracked her using the Find My app. He showed up at her new place and tried to convince her to get back together with him.
How To Tell If An AirTag is Tracking You
So, what if someone is using an AirTag without your knowledge to track your whereabouts? How can you tell if someone is using the device to follow you?
If you’re an iPhone user running iOS 14.5 or newer, you should receive a push alert whenever an unknown AirTag is nearby for an extended period of time and away from its owner. However, Apple’s website doesn’t provide an exact time frame for when this alert is triggered.
To ensure you receive notifications, turn on Bluetooth and check your settings. Under Settings, go to Privacy & Security, and toggle Location Services on. Scroll to the bottom of that page, tap on System Services, and activate Find My iPhone. Read the full Apple guidance document here if you do find one.
Use The Find My App
Also, search for the Find My app, visit Me in the bottom right corner, then tap Customize Tracking Notifications to double-check that notifications are enabled.
If your iPhone runs iOS 16.2 or later, you might be able to use precision location data to find the hidden device. If you find an unknown AirTag, you can hold your iPhone close to it to retrieve some ownership information.
Apple has launched the Tracker Detect app for Android phones months. Unlike the security features available for the iPhone, the Android app does not automatically look for unknown AirTags. Users must initiate the scan.
Are AirTags Worth It?
People love their AirTags. Once you have used them, you find new uses. For your keys, wallet, purse, luggage, child’s backpack, your remote control, your medicine, your drone – and how about one in your car! You will never “misplace” your car in a large parking lot or garage again.
AirTags are about $25 a piece, and you can often find them on sale.
Know The Law About AirTag Use
When using an AirTag or you find an Airtag in a personal belonging that you did not place there yourself, be sure you know the law for your state. First review the Apple AirTag Use Policy and their guidance document here if you do find one.
If you feel that your safety is at risk, these additional resources might be helpful:
- In the United States: The Safety Net Project at the National Network to End Domestic Violence and the National Center for Victims of Crime
- In the United Kingdom: Refuge UK
- In Australia: WESNET Safety Net Australia
