Apple Airtags

[Pushka]

Indonesian press reporting two Australian ladies claimed to have had an AirTag placed into their bag on arrival at DPS.
They found the tag sometime after leaving the airport. (they didn’t put it there) They believe it happened at DPS as the battery of the device had ‘Made in Indonesia’ on it.

For those in the know, can someone surreptitiously slip an AirTag on or into something and track a person in this sort of way? Also, how much does an AirTag cost, as if it’s expensive enough I guess you’d want to be getting back at some point.

Yes they can track you.

 

[kerfuffle]

Also, how much does an AirTag cost, as if it’s expensive enough I guess you’d want to be getting back at some point.

$49 for 1 or $165 for 4 RRP

 

[Brissy1]

I got the missus some Airtags, ( i dont have iphone) and i chucked one in my golf bag when i went on a trip to interstate.
While i was away, the last tracking event of the airtag was at home. well i thought maybe the airtag is not detectable when its inside bag.
But as soon as i arrived home, her iphone picks the airtag, despite it being inside my golfbag, and inside my travel case in another room.

its impossible that passing through 2 airports and returning, train rides, hotels and golf everday that i didnt pass by a single iphone user, i have no idea what gives.

possibly its a good thing she cant track me - but that wasnt the purpose of the test run!

As you're android, are you saying that while you were away your apple wife tried to find tag, and it showed last location as home? (did you wrap it in foil )

 

[DC3]

As you're android, are you saying that while you were away your apple wife tried to find tag, and it showed last location as home? (did you wrap it in foil )

The tags work. Wifey just acting dumb. Tracking the whole time

 

[Pushka]

Just decided to check mine and it showed that one had a battery about to go flat. I'll need it in a couple of weeks.

 

[ausfox]

Your iPhone will report to you if an AirTag not registered to your phone is travelling in your vicinity for a period of time.

 

[RooFlyer]

Just decided to check mine and it showed that one had a battery about to go flat. I'll need it in a couple of weeks.

Oh! How do you do that, please? Not apparent on the find my app.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Oh! How do you do that, please? Not apparent on the find my app.

I believe it only shows when battery is low.

How to replace the battery in your AirTag – Apple Support (AU)

You can replace the battery in your AirTag. Here’s how.

support.apple.com

 

[ausfox]

It apparently is sorted by apple. You don’t need to contribute.

 

[RooFlyer]

I believe it only shows when battery is low.

How to replace the battery in your AirTag – Apple Support (AU)

You can replace the battery in your AirTag. Here’s how.

support.apple.com

Thanks; but looking up the answer is like cheating!

 

[ausfox]

https://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwiTluDI5Y_-AhWCVWwGHei7BTMQFnoECA8QAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.apple.com%2Fau%2Fnewsroom%2F2022%2F02%2Fan-update-on-airtag-and-unwanted-tracking%2F&usg=AOvVaw0zkkNURAtG3KWrU77TgD6M

 

[TheRealTMA]

Thanks; but looking up the answer is like cheating!

I knew the answer but didn’t want to be accused of making it up, hence reference!

Give up AFF and just ask ChatGPT!

 

[Pushka]

Oh! How do you do that, please? Not apparent on the find my app.

As per @TheRealTMA - it only shows up as a red battery alert when needed. . Battery is CR2032. Only one of four had the warning.

 

[albatross710]

Indonesian press reporting two Australian ladies claimed to have had an AirTag placed into their bag on arrival at DPS.
They found the tag sometime after leaving the airport. (they didn’t put it there) They believe it happened at DPS as the battery of the device had ‘Made in Indonesia’ on it.

This story didn't make sense to me. Why bother tracking a specific random person from the airport? Enough tourists that can be followed on the streets without the expense of losing airtags. Also they said the airtag was "Made in Indonesia" which none are.

Problem though is that
Apple will tell Apple users when they are being followed by an Apple device.
Android will tell Android users when they are followed by an Android device.

But the protections are not cross-platform

 

[jb747]

Your iPhone will report to you if an AirTag not registered to your phone is travelling in your vicinity for a period of time.

Do a bit of research. The AirTags are a bit picky about the batteries that they’re happy with.

 

[Quickstatus]

But the protections are not cross-platform

Android users can use a Apple Tracker detect app to which allows Android users to detect nearby Apple AirTags - but apparently only if the AirTag is separated from their registered owner.

Good way for a thief to detect Airtags in a bag they want to steal, find it then separate the bag from its AirTag. Or maybe more realistic - avoid bags with AirTags in them and only steal bags without them?....

 

[SYD]

Android users can use a Apple Tracker detect app to which allows Android users to detect nearby Apple AirTags - but apparently only if the AirTag is separated from their registered owner.

Good way for a thief to detect Airtags in a bag they want to steal, find it then separate the bag from its AirTag. Or maybe more realistic - avoid bags with AirTags in them and only steal bags without them?....

I got the impression from the article posted earlier that the suspect AirTag has to be “following” you for a period before your device alerts you.

Wouldn’t it be pretty pointless for a thief to follow some random stranger enough to see if they have an AirTag and then move onto someone else who might also have an AirTag…?

 

[Quickstatus]

suspect AirTag has to be “following” you for a period before your device alerts you.

Sure, but the tracker app apparently (I am not in the Android ecosystem) scans for nearby AirTags. I think it scans for Airtags that are nowhere near it's owner. Allows someone to steal bags, than once remote from owner (AKa following thief) they can scan for any AirTag, find it and dispose.

 

[SYD]

Sure, but the tracker app apparently (I am not in the Android ecosystem) scans for nearby AirTags. I think it scans for Airtags that are nowhere near it's owner. Allows someone to steal bags, than once remote from owner (AKa following thief) they can scan for any AirTag, find it and dispose.

That’s the key. Scans for “lost” (or separated) AirTags. If someone has their bag with them, then it shouldn’t show up on the Google app.

But could be a security risk if someone detects a bag or luggage and can tell that the owner isn’t immediately nearby. But is that any different to that lonely bag going around a carousel at the airport…?

 

[Quickstatus]

But is that any different to that lonely bag going around a carousel at the airport…?

Correct.
I'm not sure which of the two options below are more likely.

An Apple AirTag containing bag which shows up in the attacker app might deter a thief but they will also know the owner is not nearby if they did take it. A lone bag which does not scan either means the owner is nearby or doesn't have AirTag. Will that lone bag be a little more risky to the thief?

However if a thief takes a bag, it is easy enough to detect the AirTag and discard it and the bag is lost,