IF you’re worried about being stalked with an Apple AirTag, there’s an easy way to check.
It’s possible to uncover rogue tracker tags with an iPhone or Android phone.
Apple’s AirTags were unveiled in April 2021, and are small electronic tags that can be attached to keys, backpacks, suitcases and more.
You can then use Apple’s Find My app to locate these items if you ever lose them.
They tap into the Find My network of devices, which flags up if an AirTag is near one of the millions of gadgets in the ecosystem.
And when you’re near an AirTag, you can use iPhone’s technology to accurately find the tag in a small space.
Read more on iPhone
But Apple has already faced a crisis with people using its AirTag trackers for stalking.
Thankfully, it’s possible to uncover AirTags using a smartphone.
If an AirTag registered to someone else is moving with you consistently, your iPhone will warn you.
It could be harmless, like you’ve borrowed a set of keys.
But this will alert you if someone has placed an AirTag on your person without your knowledge.
However, there’s another neat feature that could help you out.
If an AirTag has been separated from its owner for a while, it will begin making an alert sound.
This is ostensibly to help reunite lost belongings with their owners.
But it would also flag to a phone user that there’s an AirTag nearby that isn’t near to its owner.
The sound means that even if the AirTag is hidden deep inside a bag or coat, it would be exposed to a potential victim.
Apple has built an app for Android to help you uncover rogue AirTag trackers.
It’s called Tracker Detect, and will flag if a nearby AirTag is following you.
The standard alerting system on iPhone doesn’t work on Android.
That’s why Android users have to install Tracker Detect to find hidden AirTags.
It’s not a foolproof system, and sophisticated stalkers could still find ways to monitor you.
But ultimately, it’s possible that someone stalking you might prefer to use a third-party GPS tracker that has significantly fewer checks and balances than Apple’s gadget.
That’s where Google’s upcoming tracker-spotting feature would come in.
Read More on The Sun
If you think you’re being stalked, you can contact your local police, or dial 911 (US) or 999 (UK) if you or someone else is in immediate danger.
You can also get advice from the National Stalking Helpline on 0808 802 0300, which operates Monday to Friday 9.30am to 4pm (except Wednesday 1pm to 4pm) in the UK. In the US you can contact Victim Connect on 1-855-484-2846 for advice.
Looking for tips and hacks for your phone? Want to find those secret features within social media apps? We have you covered...
Get all the latest WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook and other tech gadget stories here.
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online Tech & Science team? Email us at tech@the-sun.co.uk
