Apple's AirTags may be useful in finding your lost items, but there are people who use it for the wrong reasons.
Due to the growing number of stalking incidents involving the device, New York's attorney general is calling them out as a potential tracking threat.
Attorney General Warns About Misuse of Apple AirTags
On Feb. 16, New York's Attorney General Letitia James issued a consumer alert about how the Apple AirTag can be exploited to stalk people.
The alert says that people have reported finding unknown AirTags attacked to their vehicles, and in their coat pockets, purses, and other items.
In other cases, people have received alerts on their iPhones about a nearby AirTag but have not been able to find where it is located.
These types of alerts are unnerving, as it can be unclear if the device was planted in the car, bag, or pocket, or if it was triggered by a misplaced AirTag, according to Apple Insider.
Also Read: Apple AirTags and Bluetooth Trackers Help Man Recover Stolen Scooter
The Attorney General's office did not specify the scale of the problem in New York. Apple stated that incidents of AirTag misuse are rare and that the company is working with law enforcement to crack down on offenders.
James is urging everyone to pay close attention to their belongings when other stalking incidents involving AirTags in the United States have been grabbing news headlines.
James said in the announcement that across the country, AirTags are being misused to track individuals and their belongings for the wrong reasons. Tracking people without their consent is a felony and will not be tolerated by law enforcement.
James' alert offers tips for spotting the device, according to PCMag. The devices will issue a beep that you can hear clearly between 8 to 24 hours after they have been separated from their original owners.
A rogue AirTag will also send out a warning to any nearby iPhone about its presence. As for Android users, they must download an Apple-created app to look for any rogue AirTags within their area.
The alert from New York's attorney general also added that not all unfamiliar AirTags are malicious. Apple designed the device to help customers recover their lost items. But the tech giant has been working to rein in unwanted tracking through the device.
If you encounter a rogue AirTag, you can follow the company's guidance on how to protect yourself. The device can be deactivated by removing the battery.
Each device has a serial number connected to the Apple ID it has been registered to, which can help law enforcement track down the real owner, according to MacRumors.
AirTags Incidents
Last year, it was reported that Apple AirTags were used by thieves to steal cars. The device, which cost $29, were released back in April 2021 as a device to help users keep track of their items but have now been found to be used by thieves in order to steal vehicles.
The investigators from York Regional Police Auto and Cargo Theft Unit in Aurora warned the public regarding the incident which was reported by police in Ontario, Canada.
Related Article: Stalker Uses Apple AirTag to Spy on a Woman? Here's How the iPhone User Discovered the Tracker in Her Car
This article is owned by Tech Times
Written by Sophie Webster
