Stalkers won’t be able to track victims via hidden AirTags

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Stalkers won‘t be able to track victims via hidden AirTags
Item Safety Alerts in the Find My app warn you if unknown AirTags are found.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

It won’t be possible for someone to hide an AirTag on you and track your location without permission. iPhones will notify their users if one of Apple’s item tracker tags is moving along with them.

AirTags haven’t been formally announced, but the latest iOS 14.5 beta adds an “Items” tab to the built-in Find My application so users can search for these tags. A setting in the new tab shows that AirTags apparently won’t be a stalker’s dream.

Item Safety Alerts warn if you’re being tracked

The upcoming version of the Find My app will add optional “Item Safety Alerts.” Apple has yet to explain precisely what these do, but disabling the alert results in the warning, “The owner of an unknown item will be able to see your location and you will no longer receive notifications when an unknown item is found moving with you.”

By obvious extension, when the alerts are on, you will be notified if an unknown item tracker is moving with you.

AirTags, etc., could be out soon

Rumors of AirTags have been circulating since 2019, but the latest reports say Apple’s item trackers will be unveiled before the end of  March. Supposedly, you’ll be able to attach an AirTag to a keychain or a purse, and an iPhone will easily locate the tracker if it gets misplaced.

The Find My application talks about locating non-specific “items” because more than AirTags can be located. At its developer conference last June, Apple announced that it’s giving third-party accessory makers access to the Find My network.

Source: Benjamin Mayo

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