As helpful an accessory as the Apple AirTag is, the recently launched device is not without its issues, specifically when it comes people using it for more nefarious applications, such as tracking.
With several articles already noting what the unwarranted use of an AirTag could mean when it comes to privacy, Apple has finally updated its Personal Safety User Guide on the matter.
“Apple makes it easy to connect with the people closest to you, while helping you stay aware of what you’re sharing and with whom. If you gave someone access to your personal information and no longer want to—or if you’re concerned someone who had access to your device or accounts made changes without your permission—this guide offer strategies and solutions to help you regain control,” it explains.
To be clear, this is not entirely new information as TechCrunch points out, with it simply being updated to include accessories like the AirTag, as well as noting how the device actually works.
As such, Apple says the AirTag has some privacy redundancies built into it as part of its Find My software, provided you are also using a compatible device as well.
“Both AirTag and the Find My network are designed with privacy at their core. AirTag and Find My network accessories have unique Bluetooth identifiers that change frequently. To discourage unwanted tracking, Find My notifies you if an unknown AirTag or other Find My accessory is seen moving with you over time by sending you the message, ‘Item Detected Near You’,” it notes.
“If you see this message on your device, an AirTag or other Find My accessory that has been separated from the person who registered it is traveling with you, and the owner might be able to see its location. It’s possible that the AirTag might be attached to an item you are borrowing.”
9to5Mac, which also spotted the updated User Guide says that the aforementioned elements of the Find My network only pertain to iPhone, iPad or iPod touch devices running iOS 14.5 or iPadOS 14.5 or higher.
If you suspect or are aware of someone tracking your location with an AirTag, Apple has offered up these steps.
- “Tap the message.
- Tap Continue. If you need help finding the AirTag or Find My network accessory, tap Play Sound.*
- If the AirTag or Find My network accessory is attached to an item you’re borrowing, you can tap Pause Safety Alerts to turn off “Items Detected” notifications for one day.
- If you’re borrowing an AirTag from a member of your Family Sharing group, you can turn off Safety Alerts for one day or indefinitely.
- You can tap Learn About This AirTag to see its serial number if the owner marked it as lost.
- To disable the AirTag or Find My network accessory and stop sharing your location, tap Instructions to Disable and follow the onscreen steps. If you feel your safety is at risk, contact your local law enforcement who can work with Apple. You might need to provide the AirTag, Find My network accessory, or the device’s serial number.”
This is fine for those with an Apple device, but if you’re using some other hardware from a different ecosystem, options become far more limited.
Here Apple suggests that you, “download the Tracker Detect app from the Google Play Store. Tracker Detect looks for item trackers within Bluetooth range that are separated from their owner and that are compatible with Apple’s Find My network.”
“These include AirTag and compatible item trackers that use the Find My network. If you think someone is using an AirTag or another item tracker to track your location, you can scan to try to find it. If the app detects an AirTag or compatible item tracker near you for at least 10 minutes, you can play a sound to help locate it,” says the company.
While the above steps and options are not foolproof, they do at least offer people some sort of recourse should they suspect an AirTag is tracking them or in their immediate vicinity.
That said, the greater concern around privacy and stalking remain, but with these devices already available to purchase, what can be done now, still remains unclear.
