Apple Tag Alerts to my Phone

[activeStick]

I started to get notifications mid-October on my phone alerting me about a tracker following me. I don't have an iPhone and I don't own an Apple Tag. The first alert was around midnight, and then I've now been regularly getting these alerts, I'd say every 4 days or so ever since. When I open the notification, I can see the travel path of the tracker from my building to various places near me, but only goes as far as 2 blocks.

What's happening here?

[getbak]

When you look at the path it's showing you, does it look like your movement?

If not, there's likely someone who has a tag set up who happens to live or work near you and your phone is detecting it frequently, so your phone thinks it's tracking you.



The reason your phone will do this is because some people have dropped an air tag in someone's bag or pocket as they were passing near by and it allows the person who owns the tag to track that person's movements to find out where they live and when they're usually not home -- then they go to their home and rob them (or they find out when they're home alone and assault them).

If your phone detects an unknown tag that is frequently in range of your phone, it will alert you so you can find it and destroy it. Sometimes, it can trigger a false alarm if you just happen to be frequently in close proximity to someone who happens to carry an air tag on them.

[getbak]

If you live in an apartment, and if you first got the alert around midnight, I'd guess it's your next door neighbour's air tag that they put in their bedroom at night and your phone picks it up when you're in your bedroom (assuming your bedroom and theirs are adjacent).

[activeStick]

It could potentially be my movements, but it's always the same paths each time I've received the notifications. I know it shows the time as well, and I know most of the time, I did not go down those paths at the times listed. I just found it weird that I'd be getting these notifications when I haven't signed up or registered my phone to receive these.

Could it be my neighbor beside, above or below me in the building that has one, and for some reason their tag is alerting me? Seems weird to me because then wouldn't anyone around a tag all receive alerts?

[getbak]

It's odd that you say you don't have an iPhone because my understanding is that only iPhones can do this by default and on Androids, you need to install and run an app. What's the app that gives you the alert?


On iPhones, the phone is always pinging air tags and sending that info back to Apple (which is how air tags work). If the phone is repeatedly detecting the same tag that isn't associated with the phone, it triggers this alarm. If it only detects a tag once or twice, it wouldn't send the warning.

[getbak]

Here's some more info: https://www.macworld.com/article/345...-with-you.html

[KelVarnsen]

Its the vaccine

[activeStick]

Originally Posted by getbak

It's odd that you say you don't have an iPhone because my understanding is that only iPhones can do this by default and on Androids, you need to install and run an app. What's the app that gives you the alert?


On iPhones, the phone is always pinging air tags and sending that info back to Apple (which is how air tags work). If the phone is repeatedly detecting the same tag that isn't associated with the phone, it triggers this alarm. If it only detects a tag once or twice, it wouldn't send the warning.

Yeah, that's why I am finding all of this strange! I'll wait for my next alert and share the details here.

[Fuzz]

It's part of Android now, you can turn the feature off:

https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/new...rtag-tracking/


It also explains how you can do a manual scan, so you don't have to wait.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

It's part of Android now, you can turn the feature off:

https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/new...rtag-tracking/


It also explains how you can do a manual scan, so you don't have to wait.

Good to know. I wasn't aware they had finally added that (although it looks like it was a year ago).

[activeStick]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

It's part of Android now, you can turn the feature off:

https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/new...rtag-tracking/


It also explains how you can do a manual scan, so you don't have to wait.

Thanks, Fuzz! Did the scan, Found 2 entries... detected today at 1PM. Played a sound on them, but don't hear anything.

Spoiler!

[topfiverecords]

Have you found any plastic bags in your shower?

[Wormius]

If you use Airtags on something that ends up getting stolen, they will basically alert the thief of their presence? So they’re basically not great if you want to track your laptop, backpack, bike or do you have a day or two before that person starts getting the alerts?

[Andrew]

Thee might be a tracker in your jacket lining. Only one way to find out

[activeStick]

Originally Posted by Andrew

Thee might be a tracker in your jacket lining. Only one way to find out

but I have a lot of jackets plus suit jackets