You are getting stalked by AirTags, here’s how to Protect Yourself from being Stalked
Malicious people are allegedly buying AirTags to follow people without their knowledge, according to social media users and some law enforcement agencies. Here are some of the potential solutions to How to protect yourself from being tracked by AirTags.
In April 2021, Apple released the AirTag, a device for tracking down misplaced objects. The poker chip-shaped device links to Apple’s network so it can be easily tracked by an Apple device. Many people have wondered if AirTags could be utilized for more sinister reasons. AirTags were being used as a stalking tool in the news as early as May, less than a month after its inception. In this post, you will see some of the solutions to How to protect yourself from being tracked by AirTags.
Malicious people are allegedly buying AirTags to follow people without their knowledge, according to social media users and some law enforcement agencies. The AirTag is often hidden in the victim’s car. The person who left the AirTag can use the app on their iOS device to see the victim’s general location.
According to Apple, if an AirTag is isolated from its user for eight to 24 hours, it will start emitting a sound to inform people nearby of its presence. Apple claims that when it does so within that time period, it is randomized to make it more difficult for bad actors to monitor others via AirTags.
Apple has released Tracker Detect for Android, which is designed to assist people who don’t have iPhones or iPads in detecting AirTags and other Find My network-enabled sensors that may be nearby. The new app, which Apple released on Monday on the Google Play store, is designed to help people find item trackers that work with Apple’s Find My network. “You can scan to try to find it if you fear someone is using AirTag or another gadget to track your whereabouts,” the app states.
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How to Protect Yourself from being tracked by AirTags-
If you fear your safety is in jeopardy, Apple recommends contacting your local law enforcement agency, which can collaborate with the firm (you might need to provide the AirTag or its serial number). Some victims, however, may be unable to do so. Solutions to How to protect yourself from being tracked by AirTags are shown below.
Search yourself manually
The most simple type of defense is to carefully inspect yourself and your vehicle for locations where an AirTag might have slipped, such as pockets, backpacks, or beneath cushions. However, because AirTags are so small and may be readily hidden, this isn’t the most effective method.
Make an effort to narrow things down
If you suspect someone is tracking you with an AirTag or similar device, examine what information they appear to have and try to limit the objects you have with you at those times, according to Olsen. This might assist you in determining whether something is in your personal belongings, car, or home.
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Buy a Bluetooth tracker
AirTags connect to Apple’s Find My network via Bluetooth signals. You can scan your neighborhood with Bluetooth tracking apps to discover whether an AirTag is nearby. While the apps will not recognise AirTags by name, they may assist you in determining whether or not there is an unknown gadget nearby. Bluetooth BLE Device Finder and BLE Scanner are two alternatives mentioned by Macworld.
Find the serial number on the AirTag
If you have an iPhone, you can use the Find My app to locate your device by holding the AirTag up to it. Find the AirTag’s name and tap it. The serial number will be shown next to the name. Alternatively, you can press and hold the white side of the AirTag with the top of your NFC-capable iPhone or Android phone, then tap the notification that appears. The serial number will be displayed on the next page that loads. (You can also discover it on the battery by removing it, but this will hide your position from the owner.) Again, if you need to contact law enforcement, this information can be useful.
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Disable the AirTag
If you find an AirTag on you, you can easily disable it to stop it from broadcasting your position by twisting the back of the device counter-clockwise and removing the battery. Your location will no longer be visible to the person on the other end of the line.
If you do discover that you are being followed, especially by a current or former intimate partner, domestic violence specialists advise devising a safety plan and consulting a domestic abuse service before turning off the tracker.
AirTags, on the other hand, are a little easier to deal with because you can tap them against your phone to obtain instructions on how to turn them off. Disabling an AirTag is still straightforward if your phone doesn’t support NFC. Simply place the tracker between your fingers, open it slightly by rotating the silver rear, and remove the battery.
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