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Original poster

Dd notified of new Apple tag with her since early hours - advice?

346 replies

iknowimcoming · 02/04/2022 21:05

Dd is 22, at uni, lives alone in flat with 24 hour reception (manned 24 hours) we visited her yesterday and went for brunch this morning, this evening she's had a notification that a new AirTag has been with her since 5.01am and shows the walk we took to and from the cafe this morning. She's checked everything and can't find anything, has anyone had this and it's been a mistake or should we be very concerned?

OP posts:
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6
PriamFarrl · 05/04/2022 08:27

@FavouritePi

Yes, they can be used for what you use them for but they are hardly 'perfectly harmless'. Just like the other trackers that can also be used for sinister reasons.

Hopefully Apple can find a way to avoid this kind of issue in the future. I'm not going to put the case I read about here because I don't think OP needs the anxiety but they can be dangerous in the wrong hands. I do hope it's just a glitch.

Lots of things can be used for nefarious reasons if in the wrong hands.

So many people who have never heard of them, seen them, have no idea how they work or what they do are busy condemning them as the work of satan.

marqueses · 05/04/2022 08:33

@Summercally

Does she drive? I’ve heard this happen before a few times and the tag has been placed under a license plate.
With people you actually know? Are you in the US? That sounds like an urban myth if it was in England tbh
CorsicaDreaming · 05/04/2022 08:59

@ColdinNovember

I had this and concluded it was a glitch, likely a neighbour air tag. It looked like it had followed me to work but actually the airtag was just at my house and my location settings picked up the rest of the tracking.

That sounds the most likely to me.

Or a glitch with the ear pods?

CorsicaDreaming · 05/04/2022 09:04

@PriamFarrl - you're confusing the fact that your intention and motive for using it is perfectly harmless with a gadget that is perfectly harmless. ^
^
It is the intention of the user that makes a difference here - not the fact that it is possible to use it for a good purpose

I'm surprised these got passed Data Protection laws

WitchDancer · 05/04/2022 09:32

I hope this is solved soon Thanks

gingerknobs · 05/04/2022 09:37

Never heard of an Airtag so I’ve been educated today! Hopefully your DD will find this thing soon!

MsAdoraBelleDearheartVonLipwig · 05/04/2022 10:00

I haven’t become brain dead and reliant on technology to think for me. I am however hitting the peri-menopause, at least I think I am, and my memory is bloody shocking. I regularly forget the most mundane and random of things, including picking my keys up. I am very grateful for the AirTag on my keys that I can activate from my phone, if I can’t find my keys I can’t make the 25 mile round trip to pick my Dc up from school.

They’re also bloody handy when you’re flying abroad. You can put them in your luggage. When the attendant tells you there’s a baggage delay you can tell them that you can see exactly where your suitcase is and you’d quite like your clothes for your holiday, actually. Hmm

CrankyFrankie · 05/04/2022 10:03

@PriamFarrl ... and so says the NRA and every other thinly 'veiled' nefarious organisation.

godmum56 · 05/04/2022 10:04

@CorsicaDreaming

*@PriamFarrl* - you're confusing the fact that your intention and motive for using it is perfectly harmless with a gadget that is perfectly harmless. ^ ^ It is the intention of the user that makes a difference here - not the fact that it is possible to use it for a good purpose

I'm surprised these got passed Data Protection laws

that is as silly as saying ban bleach because you can blind someone with it.
Blueeyedgirl21 · 05/04/2022 11:02

All these people saying they think air tags should be banned and are scary etc, would probably gladly microchip their kids so they can watch their every move because there’s a sex offender just waiting to snatch them and happily watch their webcams at nursery to see exactly how much attention diddums is getting each day

Inklingpot · 05/04/2022 12:03

@Blueeyedgirl21

All these people saying they think air tags should be banned and are scary etc, would probably gladly microchip their kids so they can watch their every move because there’s a sex offender just waiting to snatch them and happily watch their webcams at nursery to see exactly how much attention diddums is getting each day
It’s utterly ridiculous. All these people who have no idea what air tags are yet shouting ‘call the police’ and ‘zomg this is so terrifying!’

Pretty much any technology can be misused if someone has a mind to.

FiveForAPound · 05/04/2022 12:21

@Summercally

Does she drive? I’ve heard this happen before a few times and the tag has been placed under a license plate.

A few times! You've heard of a few different people who have had AirTags hidden under their number plate?

That's crazy.

Etak123 · 05/04/2022 14:19

Stalkers are using these AirTags to follow people remotely, it’s very scary. Have you checked your vehicle too?
Really hope you get to the bottom of this x

marqueses · 05/04/2022 14:39

@Etak123

Stalkers are using these AirTags to follow people remotely, it’s very scary. Have you checked your vehicle too? Really hope you get to the bottom of this x
Presumably only people who don't have iphones

I don't but from this thread it appears that like the DD here you get a notification if you have an iphone. Or is there some way to disable the feature?

CaptSkippy · 05/04/2022 15:13

@iknowimcoming Any updates?

OhYesIKnowWhatYouMean · 05/04/2022 15:35

You can only be "tracked" by an air tag if you have an iPhone or consistently move the tab near to one. It pings iPhones and says "I'm here"

Any iPhone that spots it's being "used" by an air tag will alert its owner, who can disable the connection so the tag can NEVER be located using that phone.

It's a useful device for not losing keys - that's all.

marqueses · 05/04/2022 15:38

@OhYesIKnowWhatYouMean

You can only be "tracked" by an air tag if you have an iPhone or consistently move the tab near to one. It pings iPhones and says "I'm here"

Any iPhone that spots it's being "used" by an air tag will alert its owner, who can disable the connection so the tag can NEVER be located using that phone.

It's a useful device for not losing keys - that's all.

Unless you never go out it must be impossible to not be near an iphone every day. At work, on public transport, in shops, pubs, they gym, walking along etc

Even just reading this thread it's obvious they are not just for lost keys. In fact I read a thread the other day by someone who found their stolen car by way of an airtag

PriamFarrl · 05/04/2022 19:14

Even just reading this thread it's obvious they are not just for lost keys.

But you realise that many people on this thread are just scaremongering and are quoting ‘stuff I read online’.

marqueses · 05/04/2022 19:35

@PriamFarrl

Even just reading this thread it's obvious they are not just for lost keys.

But you realise that many people on this thread are just scaremongering and are quoting ‘stuff I read online’.

It's obvious that you could use a tracking device for tracking anything. It's nothing to do with scaremongering, it's common sense that the poster who said they were only for lost keys clearly doesnt realise that there are numerous other uses. Some innocent some not so much, that's the point I was making.
cabansunset · 05/04/2022 20:13

have you figured out if it was a glitch yet OP?

PriamFarrl · 05/04/2022 20:22

It's obvious that you could use a tracking device for tracking anything.

Yes. And tracking devices have existed for years. All this carry on about how evil air tags and iPhones are is just hyperbole.

Triptinratbat · 05/04/2022 20:36

@iknowimcoming hope your DD is ok. Any updates please ?

really invested in this now.

Original poster
iknowimcoming · 05/04/2022 23:03

Apologies for the late update - busy day! So the Apple AirTag equivalent of turning it off and back on again seems to indicate it was a glitch (yay and phew!) as the tag disappeared and has not returned (so far) so assuming it does not reappear, which seems unlikely since there is no trace of one physically anywhere in dd's belongings, we can assume it was some sort of weird computer/phone/Bluetooth confusion.

I wish it could have been a better explanation of how and why this happened (I might get Dd to contact Apple again to see if they can explain more) but ultimately as long as my baby is safe I'm not complaining!

If there is anything further to report I will update, but if not thanks to those of you who were supportive and helpful over the last few days, and if nothing else we've learnt some new stuff!

OP posts:
MsAdoraBelleDearheartVonLipwig · 05/04/2022 23:25

I reckon a tag got confused with her phone and the signal she picking up was in fact muddled up with her own phone.

Dipsydoodlenoodle · 05/04/2022 23:26

@iknowimcoming

Apologies for the late update - busy day! So the Apple AirTag equivalent of turning it off and back on again seems to indicate it was a glitch (yay and phew!) as the tag disappeared and has not returned (so far) so assuming it does not reappear, which seems unlikely since there is no trace of one physically anywhere in dd's belongings, we can assume it was some sort of weird computer/phone/Bluetooth confusion.

I wish it could have been a better explanation of how and why this happened (I might get Dd to contact Apple again to see if they can explain more) but ultimately as long as my baby is safe I'm not complaining!

If there is anything further to report I will update, but if not thanks to those of you who were supportive and helpful over the last few days, and if nothing else we've learnt some new stuff!

Glad your DD is ok.

What a scary glitch for everyone.