Apple and Google just teamed up to fix their stalking problem

May 20, 2024

By Kim Komando

I have an Apple AirTag (14% off, $24.99) on basically everything my husband, Barry, owns. My golden retriever, Abby, even has one attached to her collar! Thank you, Apple.

While you and I might use those quarter-sized AirTags to track our stuff, others are using them to stalk people and keep tabs on their marks. They’ll hide them in your purse or in your car to follow you home and steal your vehicle later — or worse.

Now, three long years after AirTags hit the scene, Apple and Google are finally working together to make it easy to see if someone is stalking you with any Bluetooth tracker. And when the two of the biggest rivals in tech team up, you know there’s a serious problem. 

How did they fix it?

With the latest update, Apple and Google have made it so Bluetooth trackers will show tracking alerts on devices running at least iOS 17.5 or Android 6.0.

If someone’s stalking you with a tracker, here’s what you’ll see:

• On iOS: You’ll get an alert that says “[Item] found moving with you.” Tap it to open Find My and see where the tracker is on a map. Tap Play sound to find it.
• On Android: You’ll see a “Tracker traveling with you” alert. Tap More Info > Play Sound to find the tracker. 

Found an unfamiliar tracker? 

Before you disable it, take these steps:

• First, screenshot any identifying information. AirTag trackers include a serial number and the last four digits of the phone number connected with its registration. This info could be crucial if you need to file a police report.

• If it’s an AirTag, physically disable it. Unless you disable the AirTag, its owner will know where it is — and where you are. It doesn’t matter what you turn off on your device. To manually disable an AirTag, push down on the back of it, turn counterclockwise and remove its battery. 
• Bring it to law enforcement. When you reset or disable some trackers back to factory settings, it can wipe any links back to the owner, which could get your stalker off the hook. Bring the device to the police instead.

PSA: Physically disabling a tracker will stop the person who owns it from getting updates, but they’ll still see where it was last enabled. 

The good and bad news

Beyond Apple AirTags, other Bluetooth tag manufacturers, like Chipolo, eufy, Jio, Motorola and Pebblebee, will also show tracking alerts on iOS or Android devices. 

But older tracking devices can still fly under the radar and track you without an alert. I have a feeling this isn’t the last we’ll be hearing about this …

If you’re being stalked, you’re not alone. I get calls from folks all the time dealing with this nightmare. I just wrote about how to handle cyberstalkers last week.

❤️ Find more resources for tech safety and privacy specifically for stalking victims and domestic violence survivors at the Safety Net Project. And keep reading and sharing my newsletter to stay on top of how to protect yourself and your loved ones.

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