The AirTag is a small (coin-sized) location device manufactured by Apple that aims to help the user find personal items such as keys, cell phones, backpacks, luggage, and more. Simply set it up with your iPhone or iPad and attach it to the item or device in question to track it.
Now, the AirTag can also be used to track people without their consent. For example, simply leaving the device in the car or in a bag is enough to geolocate the victim and use it as a harassment tool.
For this reason and to guarantee the safety of its users, Apple has created an alert that can detect unknown AirTags. In this article you will learn what it is about.
How to detect if an AirTag is tracking you
To know if an AirTag is monitoring you, you won’t have to take any manual action. Your iPhone will automatically alert you when an unauthorized AirTag is near you and tracking you.
In this sense, you will receive the following message: “An AirTag was found moving with you.” To ensure you support this type of notification, your iPhone must be updated to at least iOS 14.5.
In the event that you do not receive any warning, but you suspect that your steps with an AirTag are following, you can do the following:
Turn on tracking notifications
Follow these steps to ensure tracking alerts are working correctly:
– Go to “Settings” and enter “Privacy and security”.
– Then, press “Location Services” and activate this feature if it is not enabled.
– Now, go to “System Services” and activate “Find My iPhone” and “Significant Locations”.
– Go back to “Settings”, select “Bluetooth” and turn it on.
– Finally, go to the “Find My” app, tap your profile (“Me”) and enable tracking notifications.
Check out the Find My app
When the AirTag is separated from its owner, it can make sounds that make it easier for others to find it. If you heard the sound of an AirTag or another that you don’t recognize, go to the Find My app to see if you found one.
You can also make it play a sound, just enter Find My and touch the “Play a sound” option for the device to start ringing. Note that this option is only available if the AirTag owner and their iPhone or iPad are not within range of the tracker.
Research the information
If you’ve found an AirTag that doesn’t belong to you, use your iPhone’s NFC to check the tracker information. All you have to do is bring the AirTag closer to the top of the iPhone for it to display a notification that you must press. When you enter the notification, it will redirect you to a website that will give you the AirTag serial number and the last four digits of the owner’s phone number.
When you finish reviewing the information, deactivate the AirTag, just press it down, turn the cover counterclockwise and remove the battery so that it is completely inoperative.
