[Help] Unknown Tracker Alert

Robdinho · Oct 24, 2024

My partner just got an alert on her phone that an "unknown apple airtag has been detected".

Has anyone had this, or know how this works?

Both our phones are still detecting a tag nearby, but we can't hear anything when we try to make it make a sound.

Clicking the notification comes up with a map, which bears no resemblance to where she's been (last detected location is about 3 miles up the road, and she's been home all day).

Are we just making our neighbours' keys beep, or is there something else we should be doing?

Bozza · Oct 25, 2024

I've never owned Airtags, but I understand one malicious use of them was to place them in/on a possession of someone you wanted to track/stalk.

To counter this, an iPhone would alert you if an Airtag that wasn't your own seemed to be travelling with you.

It sounds as though the warning you mention could be that. I guess it doesn't necessarily mean it is someone up to no good. It may be possible for an Airtag in a neighbouring property to be flagged in this way potentially, perhaps.

Justice · Oct 25, 2024

Is someone tracking you or your partner? I would check everything inside bags coat pockets etc.

Creaky · Oct 25, 2024

Robdinho said:
My partner just got an alert on her phone that an "unknown apple airtag has been detected".

Has anyone had this, or know how this works?

Both our phones are still detecting a tag nearby, but we can't hear anything when we try to make it make a sound.

Clicking the notification comes up with a map, which bears no resemblance to where she's been (last detected location is about 3 miles up the road, and she's been home all day).

Are we just making our neighbours' keys beep, or is there something else we should be doing?

Airtags work by using Bluetooth and are "trackable" via the Findmy app

Any iPhone passing within Bluetooth range of an Airtag will cause a location to be sent to Apple. In the case of your partner it looks like they passed within Bluetooth range of an Airtag.

If the Airtag is being shown as 3 miles away then you are now well out of Bluetooth range.

Creaky · Oct 25, 2024

Airtag VS GPS tracker, what is the difference ?

Do you know what the difference is between the Airtag and a GPS tracker? Find out why the Airtag does not protect you against theft.

beepings.com

Shropshire Seagull · Oct 25, 2024

No idea, but would add that the typical Bluetooth range is only 10 metres.

Does this mean your stalker / assassin is less than 10 metres away?

Eeek!

Robdinho · Oct 25, 2024

Creaky said:
Airtag VS GPS tracker, what is the difference ?

Do you know what the difference is between the Airtag and a GPS tracker? Find out why the Airtag does not protect you against theft.

beepings.com

We have no Apple devices so, from the sound of things, nobody is going to be able to find an airtag in our house as it would have nothing to connect to.

I think the most likely explanation is that it's next door, although that doesn't explain why my partners phone thinks it travelled with her on a journey she didn't make. Very mysterious!

Bombardier · Oct 25, 2024

Am I the only one who hasn’t got a clue what you are talking about? I am sooooo 19th century.

Bodian · Oct 25, 2024

Bombardier said:
Am I the only one who hasn’t got a clue what you are talking about? I am sooooo 19th century.

You're not alone!

Muzzman · Oct 25, 2024

I use an Airtag on a collar that my cat wears as I like to know what he's up to when he's out and about... I know that's not helpful, but your missus may have picked up a 'roaming' tag being worn by some animal.

Bozza · Oct 25, 2024

Bombardier said:
Am I the only one who hasn’t got a clue what you are talking about? I am sooooo 19th century.

Bodian said:
You're not alone!

There are a range of products that are used to track things. Small discs or tiles. The most well-known is probably the Apple AirTag - https://amzn.to/4flM1ih.

They work by connecting to nearby phones and using the GPS of those phones to report their location to the locator owner.

Typically people attach them to valuable things so they have less chance of losing them. A lot of people put them in their luggage when travelling so that if their case doesn't make a flight and the airline say they've lost it, they may be able to locate it and tell the airline where it is.

However, some nefarious folk have used them for stalking others - imagine you stuck one to someone's car as you wanted to find out where they live etc.

So, for the Airtags at least - not sure if other similar products do it - if your iPhone detects that an Airtag that is not yours has been close to you for a period of time and/or different locations, it will warn you. It's basically a "someone might be stalking you" warning.

Bozza · Oct 25, 2024

Muzzman said:
I use an Airtag on a collar that my cat wears as I like to know what he's up to when he's out and about... I know that's not helpful, but your missus may have picked up a 'roaming' tag being worn by some animal.

My mum who has dementia and Alzherimer's escaped yesterday, so I've just ordered one so I can slip it into her handbag to give us a beter chance of finding her quickly if (or, more likley, when) she does it again.

Muzzman · Oct 25, 2024

Bozza said:
My mum who has dementia and Alzherimer's escaped yesterday, so I've just ordered one so I can slip it into her handbag to give us a beter chance of finding her quickly if (or, more likley, when) she does it again.

I'm going to assume you're joking, but if not, I wish you best of luck in finding your mum. They're awful conditions to live with, both as a sufferer and those related to them.

Bozza · Oct 25, 2024

Muzzman said:
I'm going to assume you're joking, but if not, I wish you best of luck in finding your mum. They're awful conditions to live with, both as a sufferer and those related to them.

Sadly, not.

Whilst my aunt was on the loo, she made a break for it yesterday. I was out with the dog on top of the Downs, so about an hour away at best. My aunt managed to track her down and get her home, but on another day my mum could be out of sight and in a different direction.

An AirTag may help us next time.

Muzzman · Oct 25, 2024

Bozza said:
Sadly, not.

Whilst my aunt was on the loo, she made a break for it yesterday. I was out with the dog on top of the Downs, so about an hour away at best. My aunt managed to track her down and get her home, but on another day my mum could be out of sight and in a different direction.

An AirTag may help us next time.

So glad I didn't use the 'laughing' emoji then. I'm sorry to hear that.

BNthree · Oct 25, 2024

Robdinho said:
We have no Apple devices so, from the sound of things, nobody is going to be able to find an airtag in our house as it would have nothing to connect to.

Some info in this page:

Find unknown trackers - Android Help

You can identify, find and remove trackers that have been placed near you or in your belongings without your knowledge or consent with the help of Unknown tracker alerts. What are trackers? A tracke

support.google.com

Including how to do a manual scan:

You can check for trackers that are separated from their owners and currently near you at any time.

On your device, tap Settings.
Tap Safety and emergency

Unknown tracker alerts

Scan now.
- Your device takes about 10 seconds to complete a manual scan.

Tom Hark Preston Park · Oct 25, 2024

Bozza said:
Sadly, not.

Whilst my aunt was on the loo, she made a break for it yesterday. I was out with the dog on top of the Downs, so about an hour away at best. My aunt managed to track her down and get her home, but on another day my mum could be out of sight and in a different direction.

An AirTag may help us next time.

What an awful stressful time for you mate, my heart goes out to you. Just had a quick look and there seem to be various Airtag jewellery products available, some of them quite pretty. Might make a good back-up option, should your mum lose or forget her handbag, assuming a person can be tracked via multiple Airtags

AIT76 · Oct 25, 2024

Bozza said:
So, for the Airtags at least - not sure if other similar products do it - if your iPhone detects that an Airtag that is not yours has been close to you for a period of time and/or different locations, it will warn you. It's basically a "someone might be stalking you" warning.

To counter stalking, the Android version 'Find My Device' won't report the location of a device if it matches the recorded home address of a Google account holder. Also a certain threshold of 'sightings' needs to be reached before the location is shared.

https://security.googleblog.com/2024/04/find-my-device-network-security-privacy-protections.html

dazzer6666 · Oct 25, 2024

I stick one in each suitcase when we’re travelling………no issues so far, but it’s comforting to know your bags have at least arrived at the same airport as you or are on the same plane

Springal · Oct 25, 2024

That’s the warning you get if you are in close proximity to one that moves with you. I get it if I take my girlfriends keys (which has a tag) out with me - my phone will alert me of it

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