Incidents involving bad actors abusing AirTags pop up every now and then, and the problem has become serious enough for the Attorney General of New York to issue a public safety alert, asking folks to stay vigilant of coin-sized trackers fingerprinting their movements. Since their launch, there have been multiple instances of people being put at risk after an AirTag was secretly planted on them, covertly slipped into their bag, or taped to the underside of their car. Thieves have reportedly even deployed AirTags as a way to steal cars.
Misuse potential aside, the hardware itself can be modified to make them even harder to detect. For example, tweaked AirTags with their speakers disabled were recently listed for sale online. Killing the speaker circuit ensures that the victim never hears the beep that an AirTag produces when it goes out of range, or when it is alerting someone that an AirTag is nearby. Even though the eBay and Etsy listings were quickly pulled down again, it only exposed the fact that AirTags are easy to abuse, and the materials to do so are readily available.
Concerned about the rising cases of AirTag abuse, New York Attorney General Letitia James sent out a consumer safety alert to citizens, asking them to stay vigilant about trackers that can be planted anywhere from their cars and personal property to bags and coat pockets. “I urge all New Yorkers to pay close attention to their belongings and follow the tips provided by my office to stay safe,” AG James said, while also warning that tracking an individual without consent is a serious felony. Under New York Penal Law (120.45-120.60), stalking is a Class B misdemeanor, and even in its least severe form (making the victim feel unsafe, affecting their mental health, or causing a person to fear for his business/property/career), it is punishable with up to three months in prison, and/or a year of probation, and/or a fine of up to $500.
The New York Attorney General’s public safety alert lists some steps that users can take as precautionary measures to steer clear of stalking via AirTags. New Yorkers have been advised to pay heed to unfamiliar beeping sounds. If an AirTag is spotted nearby, it is suggested that users note down the serial number that appears in the notification, disable it by following the on-screen notifications, and call for law enforcement officials. Apple recently revealed that it does assist law enforcement by providing details of the owner of an AirTag in cases where one was discovered in suspicious circumstances. Apple has also promised that it will make the alert beeps louder so that unidentified AirTags can be spotted easier.
On Apple devices running iOS 15.4 or higher, users should pay attention to alerts that say “Item Detected Near You” and take the necessary course of action as mentioned above. For those with an Android phone, they should download the Tracker Detect app to get alerts when an AirTag is detected as moving with them. As for Apple, the company is addressing some of the glaring safety concerns in the near future. These steps include reducing the warning delay and making users aware of the risks that come with abusive usage of AirTags. Interestingly, a New York Times journalist recently documented her journey of tracking her husband’s movements using AirTags, highlighting how easily the tiny trackers can be misused.
Sources: Office of New York Attorney General, NYT
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Author: Nadeem Sarwar
