While some guides recommend using a Bluetooth scanner to find an AirTag, Eva Galperin, director of cybersecurity at Electronic Frontier Foundation The tracker does not consider this method reliable for detection. “I've tried using different Bluetooth scanners to locate the AirTag, and they don't work all the time,” she says.
millions of Americans still don't have a smartphoneWithout any tools at hand, you'll have to rely on visual and audio clues to find any hidden AirTags. The circular white disc is slightly larger than a quarter. As reported the new York TimesAshley Estrada discovered her license plate and an AirTag recorded under it Video Documentation of the incident garnered over 22 million views on TikTok.
When the AirTag was first released, the tracker would beep if it was away from the owner for more than three days. Apple has since reduced the time to 24 hours or less. Despite the update, you won't want to rely on sound alone to locate the AirTag. Many videos on YouTube provide DIY instructions for disabling the speaker, and noiseless version Some trackers were also listed on Etsy for a short time.
What if I find someone?
The best way to deactivate the AirTag is to remove the battery. To do this, turn the AirTag so that the metal part with the Apple logo is facing you. Press down on the logo and rotate counterclockwise. Now you will be able to remove the cover and take that battery out,
of apple support page If you think you're in a dangerous situation, AirTag suggests contacting the police. The support page reads, “If you feel your safety is at risk, contact your local law enforcement, who can work with Apple to request information related to the item.” “You may need to provide the AirTag, set of AirPods, Find My Network accessory, and the device's serial number.” One way to locate the serial number is to hold the top of an iPhone or other near-field-communications-enabled smartphone over the white side of the AirTag. A website with the serial number will pop up.
This page may also include a partial phone number of the person who has the tracking device. If you're hesitant to scan the AirTag or don't have the ability, there is a serial number printed on the device beneath the battery.
Who does it affect?
In viral stories and police reports shared online, women are often the victims of AirTag stalking, but when WIRED spoke to Galperin in 2022 she cautioned against making unwanted tracking an issue only for women. “I have been working with victims of technology-enabled abuse for many years,” she says, “about two-thirds of the victims who come to me are women.” But one third of them are men. I suspect that number would be higher if there was not such a stigma about being a victim or survivor of abuse.”
She emphasized how men, women, and non-binary people can all be victims of abuse, as well as perpetrators. “When we paint all of this with this broad brush, we make it really hard for victims to come forward who don't fit that mold,” Galperin says. Tech-enabled abuse cases do not follow simplistic narratives and can affect anyone.
For more resources, you can visit the website National Domestic Violence HotlineContact the hotline by calling 1-800-799-7233 or texting “START” to 88788.
December 2, 2024: This article has been updated to reflect recent changes in the way iOS, Android, and AirTags operate.