What can you do to avoid being misused? Introducing Apps and Countermeasures to Prevent AirTag Misuse
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In recent years, people have been misusing Apple’s “AirTag,” which is a tool meant to help you find your things. It’s been used in crimes like stalking and theft.
Apple and Google are working together to stop this from happening. They’re making new rules and coming up with ways to stop people from misusing AirTags. But it’s also important for people to protect themselves. This article explains how AirTags can be misused and how you can protect yourself.
- What are some examples of misusing AirTags?
- 1.Stalking by hiding AirTags in bags or cars
- 2.AirTags found on police investigation vehicles
- 3. AirTag Misuse Leading to Murder CasesIn
- 4. Concerns About AirTags Being Used for Car Theft
- To protect yourself, you should install an app that detects when AirTags are misused.
- What to do if you see someone misusing an AirTag
- 1.Find the AirTag
- 2.Leave your home or workplace with the AirTag
- 3.Remove the battery to stop the AirTag's function
- 4.Report to the police
- 5.Collect evidence
- 6.Talk to experts
- We should get ready for crimes that involve using AirTags in the wrong way.
What are some examples of misusing AirTags?
There are three main ways people misuse AirTags. These misuses can invade people’s privacy and potentially cause serious harm.
1.Stalking by hiding AirTags in bags or cars
AirTags are most often misused for stalking. This means that someone might hide AirTags in the target’s bag, car, or other belongings to track their movements.
In the United States, many cases of stalking using AirTags have been reported. In Japan, a man in his 40s attached an AirTag to his colleague’s car to monitor her movements. He even approached her and asked, “You were at the hospital yesterday, weren’t you?”
2.AirTags found on police investigation vehicles
In May 2022, an AirTag was discovered attached to an investigation vehicle parked at the Toyota Police Station in Aichi Prefecture. The AirTag was found inside a plastic box with a magnetic attachment, placed on the muffler at the back of the vehicle. It was discovered when an investigator was about to enter the car.This incident demonstrates the potential misuse of AirTags to interfere with police investigations or threaten the safety of investigators.There are suspicions that anti-social elements might be behind this act.
3. AirTag Misuse Leading to Murder CasesIn
In 2022, a woman used an AirTag to stalk her boyfriend after she suspected him of cheating. She placed the AirTag on his car, and followed him to a bar where she found him with another woman. The argument got heated, and in the end, the woman ran over her boyfriend with her car, killing him.
In another incident, a man placed an AirTag in his ex-girlfriend’s car to track her and later shot her. These cases show how AirTags can be misused with very bad results.
4. Concerns About AirTags Being Used for Car Theft
AirTags can be used to track where things are. This has people worried about using them to steal cars, especially luxury cars. Criminals might hide an AirTag on a fancy car to track where it is or where it usually parks. Then, they could steal it when the owner is not looking. Also, thieves could use AirTags to find the owner’s home address and break in to steal things.
AirTags have also been used to catch thieves. For example, in 2023, a man in Nagoya, Japan, put an AirTag in a fake package after having items stolen from his delivery. This led to the arrest of the thief. But these devices can also be dangerous. In one case in the U.S., a woman who used an AirTag to track her stolen car was shot and killed by the thief. This shows that it’s risky to confront criminals directly.
To protect yourself, you should install an app that detects when AirTags are misused.
One effective way to deal with AirTags being misused is to install an app that can detect them. These apps have features that can find nearby AirTags and alert you when they are in the area.
Representative applications
- For iPhones, the app is called “Find My.”
- For Androids, the app is called “Tracker Detect.”
If you have an Android phone, we recommend that you install the “Tracker Detect” app from Apple. This app can find not only AirTags but also other trackers that work with Apple’s “Find My” network. You can use both apps for free.Also, some Android phones have a “Detect Unknown Trackers” feature that can find AirTags. iPhones with iOS 17.5 or later have a similar feature.
What to do if you see someone misusing an AirTag
Below, we explain what to do if you see someone misusing an AirTag. If you find an AirTag hidden in your bag or see a tracker on your phone that you don’t recognize, please do the following:
1.Find the AirTag
To stop AirTag misuse, you need to remove the battery and disable its function. If you get a notification about an unknown tracker on your phone, first find the AirTag that might be hidden in your car or belongings.
The sound-playing feature is good for finding AirTags. For iPhones with iOS 17.5 or later, tap “Unwanted Tracking Alert,” then “Continue,” and then “Play Sound” to make the hidden AirTag make a sound.
On Android, you can use the “Detect Unknown Trackers” feature or the “Tracker Detect” app to play a sound from the AirTag by tapping “Play Sound” from the notification.
2.Leave your home or workplace with the AirTag
After finding the AirTag, it’s important to leave your home or workplace with it before removing the battery.If you remove the battery at home or work, the stalker might be able to figure out your address from the last time the AirTag sent a signal.
Make sure to move to a location far from your home or workplace, somewhere that won’t show the stalker where you are, before continuing to the next step of disabling the AirTag.
If your home or workplace has already been identified, there’s a possibility that surveillance cameras or listening devices might have been planted along with the AirTag. As a precaution, check for these devices as well, and if found, promptly consult with the police.
3.Remove the battery to stop the AirTag’s function
‘To disable the AirTag’s function, press down on the stainless steel cover, rotate it counterclockwise to remove it, and take out the battery. Once the battery is removed, the AirTag can no longer be used for malicious tracking.
Note that submerging the AirTag in water to damage it may not work because it is water resistant. Removing the battery is easier and more reliable.
4.Report to the police
If you find an AirTag that you don’t recognize, do not keep it. Get it back to the person who lost it. If you can’t find the owner, call the police right away.
Tell them where you found the AirTag and what you saw.
When you call the police, tell them:
– Where you found the AirTag
– The AirTag’s serial number
– When you noticed the AirTag was there
– Any other important information
5.Collect evidence
Take photos and videos of the AirTag, and save screenshots as evidence. Also, write down notes about where and when you found the AirTag.
6.Talk to experts
If you need advice, talk to experts like lawyers or support centers for victims of stalking. They can help you take the right steps.
We should get ready for crimes that involve using AirTags in the wrong way.
AirTags can be misused for stalking or theft, so it’s important to take steps to prevent that.Both iPhones and Android devices have built-in features to detect unknown trackers. It’s recommended that you keep these features turned on.If your device doesn’t have this feature, you can install a separate app for tracker detection.
If you find an AirTag that’s being misused, move far away from your home or workplace before disabling it by removing the battery.Follow these tips to avoid problems caused by misused AirTags.
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