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These shady tech loopholes let stalkers track you
Wonder why Apple and Google suddenly started rolling out anti-stalking alerts for their Bluetooth trackers? Apple’s dealing with a class-action lawsuit from victims who say abusers used AirTags to track and harass them.
Now, on iOS 17.5 and Android 14, your phone will alert you when an unknown tracker is moving with you. These alerts, though, might not pop up until it’s too late. That’s why I need to share this important information with you.
How long can a stalker track you undetected?
Apple can take up to nine hours to notify you about an unknown tracker on or near you. That’s plenty of time for a stalker to get to you, especially if they’re local.
That means if a carjacker tags your vehicle, you might lead them right to your house before you ever get alerted.
There are other loopholes, too. Older tracking devices can still follow you without an alert. Savvy creeps can even reconfigure new trackers to track you for months undetected.
Been in one of these situations recently?
Take steps to protect yourself if you’ve:
- Had an ex show up somewhere unannounced or harass you via text or voicemail.
- Driven over the border to Canada or Mexico. (Crooks tag tourists’ cars to steal or for trafficking illegal items.)
- Had a creepy interaction with a stranger at a bar or store.
Run a manual check on your phone
You can check for trackers even if you don’t get an alert.
- On iPhone, open your Find My app and then tap Items at the bottom of the screen. Tap on a nearby AirTag > Find.
- On Android, head to Settings > Safety & Emergency > Unknown tracker alerts > Scan now.
Run this check while in your home, in your car, or even near clothes or bags you typically wear or carry when you leave the house.
Do a physical scan
On your person:
- Check your pockets and bags when you go out and when you come home. AirTags are tiny, so people can slip them in without your noticing.
- When you’re out, zip up your bags and keep them close by.
In your car:
- Check the wheel wells, grill and underside of your car.
- If someone untrustworthy has had access to your car, look in the seat crevices, seat pockets, glove compartment and trunk.
‘Kim, I found a tracker. What now?’
Let’s say you find an Apple AirTag or another GPS tracker on or near your person and you don’t recognize it. Scary, right? Depending on your situation, you might want to hold off on disabling it.
- Instead, make an envelope out of aluminum foil. Put the tracker inside, and make sure there are no gaps or holes. The foil will block any signals, so the person who installed it will just think it’s out of range.
- Then, take the foil-wrapped tracker to a police station. They can figure out who put the tracker in your car.
I’ve heard too many stories from stalking victims in my career. I don’t want you or a loved one to be another. Share this story with folks in your life to help keep them safe.
Don’t get left behind – Stay tech ahead
Award-winning host Kim Komando is your secret weapon for navigating tech.
- National radio show: Find your location station or listen as a podcast
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Tags: Android, Apple, Apple iPhone, apps, devices, Google, home, phone, Precision Finding, settings, tech
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