PEOPLE who don’t use Apple products are at a greater risk of being tracked using the brand’s AirTags, an expert has warned.
A warning was issued by New York Attorney General Letitia Janes on Wednesday warning that the small and inexpensive GPS tracking devices are being used to track other people and their belongings.
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It came after consumers had reported finding unknown Apple AirTags attacked to their cars, in the purses, coat pockets, and other property.
Morgan Wilson, an expert on the rise of sexual and domestic violence by aid of technology at Northeastern’s Domestic Violence Institute, told The Sun that it is the size and price of AirTags that makes them so dangerous.
They have the potential to put millions of people at risk as they are so hard to find if hidden in a person’s car, in one of their possession, or even on their person.
Apple AirTags are small tracking devices used to act as key finders for people to locate their personal items.
However, scammers have been using the small devices on people’s personal belongings in an effort to track them.
The fact that they can also be purchased for $29 means that once expensive tracking resources are now up for grabs for a much larger number of people.
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“Now you’re giving abusers an opportunity to find other ways to abuse someone without them ever knowing,” Wilson said.
“The small size is problematic.”
However, Android users or those who use no smart technology or cellphone are among those who could be the most at risk of those looking to track them.
While Apple users will be notified on one of their devices after 72 hours if there is an unknown AirTag nearby, those who don’t own one of the brand’s devices will receive no such message.
“I think every person is at risk for someone doing it, as a joke or otherwise,” Wilson said.
“But I think it’s particularly acute for people who aren’t in the Apple bubble.
“If you don’t have an iPad or an Apple computer, or a phone, or even Apple AirPods that would alert you that an unregistered tracker is moving with you, you’re not going to get that notification at all.”
NO NOTIFICATIONS
She explained that there is a way to get a tracker to emit a sound to find out where it is, “if people have figured out how to tamper with that speaker, it may stop or mute the dinging noise.”
“There’s no way for someone to get a notification if they’re not on the Apple network,” Wilson said, adding that the problem is worsened if a person lives or works with the person trying to track them.
“They can just as easily go on their phone and say ‘oh, yes, the tracker’s close to me now,’ so it’s never going to ding,” she said.
“It’s never going to give you that alert.”
Wilson also said that even though Apple has made attempts to safeguard people’s privacy, it is not enough to only alert users of an unidentified AirTag nearby after 72 hours.
“Think of all the things you would do in three days in the course of your normal life,” she said.
“Now this abusive party has GPS monitoring, to pinpoint the location as to where all of those things you are doing are.”
NO DATA STORED
And she claimed that this is made worse by the fact that Apple does not store any data on where you are, meaning a stalker could track you when you can’t remember the places you were yourselves.
“They don’t store any metadata, which I don’t necessarily think is a bad thing, on their server,” Wilson explained.
“But as I said, waiting 72 hours to figure out that a tracker has been moving with you is really problematic.
“On top of that, Apple can’t see it, the person being tracked can’t see what the tracker is actually picking up.
“So if they [a person being stalked] haven’t been keeping track of all the places that they’ve gone in 72 hours, Apple can’t see that, they might not remember.
“Now this person who’s had this tracker has all of that information, pinpoint location, and insights.”
QUESTIONS UNANSWERED
Wilson continued that Apple saying they are working with local police departments is not enough to combat the problem.
“It doesn’t really get at how are you dealing with people who are being tracked that don’t have Apple devices?” she slammed.
“Why is there a 72-hour wait? When and how are people being made aware that people can tamper with the speaker device? And what are you doing to protect against that?
“Those questions haven’t really been answered and if they’ve tried, they haven’t done so in a sufficient way.”
ADVICE ISSUED
New York AG James issued some advice in her warning on Wednesday about how to be alert to signs you are being tracked.
Pay attention to unfamiliar beeping. When an AirTag is separated from a connected device for some time, it will begin beeping.
Try to locate the source of the noise at the tags can be found in multiple places including bags, pockets, and under cars. If you find the AirTag, you can hold your phone up to it to receive information on it, including its serial number.
Write down the information and disable the AirTag. Be sure to call your local law enforcement for assistance.
If you receive a notification that reads “Item Detected Near You”, tap the message and it will allow you to detect the AirTag.
If you own an Android device, download the Tracker Detect app from the Google Play Store.
This helps you track any unfamiliar AirTags within your Bluetooth range.
Apple was approached for comment.
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