Photo: Bogdan Popa/autoevolution
AirTags are fantastic devices when used for their primary purpose – finding lost items, like car keys and wallets, but they can easily become a double-edged sword due to nefarious ideas.
Criminals and stalkers have been using AirTags to track their victims, and a recent case from Goshen, Connecticut, proves that anti-stalking warnings are critical for Apple users.
A woman said she discovered an AirTag on the inside of a wheel after receiving a warning that someone might track her location. The first alert appeared on her iPhone in February 2023, but she thought an Apple device belonging to a relative triggered the notification. A month later, she received another alert and decided to check the car for potential AirTags.
She discovered the tracker, put it in a plastic bag, and transported it to the local police. Troop B. Police started an investigation, and using the AirTag serial number, they contacted Apple to obtain information about the owner.
It didn't take long for the police investigators to hear from Apple, so in May, they learned that the AirTag owner was someone called Anthony Margo, who was based in Torrington.
The officers had a hard time finding Torrington. They eventually made contact with the suspect, who claimed he moved to Bridgeport. Their attempts to meet with the man hit several roadblocks, as he didn't answer phone calls. Fast forward nearly a year later, and the police managed to track the man down, eventually getting a warrant and taking him into custody. He was released on a $10K bond.
The case proves two things. First, police must handle these cases more seriously and faster, especially as someone who hides an AirTag in someone's car could have more nefarious plans. The woman said she never met the suspect, claiming she had no idea who he was.
Second, while Apple's anti-stalking alerts worked this time, they must be more frequent and use more straightforward language to make it clear to the potential victim that someone might track their location. The woman said she didn't know an AirTag was planted in her car the first time she received the alert.
Apple is already working on the second-generation AirTag, and the new model is expected to include more anti-stalking protections and be more precise. The device won't launch until 2025, as Apple considers the existing version as advanced enough both in terms of privacy and precision. People familiar with the matter claim Apple is now trying to clear out the existing inventory of first-generation AirTags to prepare for the second-generation model. It's why Apple offers big discounts on the current model, so if you're OK with the AirTag, this is the best time to buy the device (or the four-AirTag pack).
A woman said she discovered an AirTag on the inside of a wheel after receiving a warning that someone might track her location. The first alert appeared on her iPhone in February 2023, but she thought an Apple device belonging to a relative triggered the notification. A month later, she received another alert and decided to check the car for potential AirTags.
She discovered the tracker, put it in a plastic bag, and transported it to the local police. Troop B. Police started an investigation, and using the AirTag serial number, they contacted Apple to obtain information about the owner.
It didn't take long for the police investigators to hear from Apple, so in May, they learned that the AirTag owner was someone called Anthony Margo, who was based in Torrington.
The officers had a hard time finding Torrington. They eventually made contact with the suspect, who claimed he moved to Bridgeport. Their attempts to meet with the man hit several roadblocks, as he didn't answer phone calls. Fast forward nearly a year later, and the police managed to track the man down, eventually getting a warrant and taking him into custody. He was released on a $10K bond.
The case proves two things. First, police must handle these cases more seriously and faster, especially as someone who hides an AirTag in someone's car could have more nefarious plans. The woman said she never met the suspect, claiming she had no idea who he was.
Second, while Apple's anti-stalking alerts worked this time, they must be more frequent and use more straightforward language to make it clear to the potential victim that someone might track their location. The woman said she didn't know an AirTag was planted in her car the first time she received the alert.
Apple is already working on the second-generation AirTag, and the new model is expected to include more anti-stalking protections and be more precise. The device won't launch until 2025, as Apple considers the existing version as advanced enough both in terms of privacy and precision. People familiar with the matter claim Apple is now trying to clear out the existing inventory of first-generation AirTags to prepare for the second-generation model. It's why Apple offers big discounts on the current model, so if you're OK with the AirTag, this is the best time to buy the device (or the four-AirTag pack).
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