AirTag explained

Developer:Apple
Manufacturer:Foxconn
Type:Key finder
Power:CR2032 button cell
Currentfw:2.0.73 (2A73)
Dimensions:Diameter: 31.9mm
Thickness: 8mm
Weight:11g
Service:Find My network
Release Date:Announced on
Retail Availability:Available since
Connectivity:Bluetooth LE, UWB, NFC

AirTag is a tracking device developed by Apple.[1] AirTag is designed to act as a key finder, which helps people find personal objects (e.g., keys, bags, apparel, small electronic devices, vehicles). To locate lost items, AirTags use Apple's crowdsourced Find My network, estimated in early 2021 to consist of approximately one billion devices worldwide that detect and anonymously report emitted Bluetooth signals.[2] AirTags are compatible with any iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch device capable of running iOS/iPadOS 14.5 or later, including iPhone 6S or later (including iPhone SE 1, 2 and 3). Using the built-in U1 chip on iPhone 11 or later (except iPhone SE models), users can more precisely locate items using ultra-wideband (UWB) technology. AirTag was announced on April 20, 2021,[3] [4] made available for pre-order on April 23, and released on April 30.

History

The product was rumored to be under development in April 2019.[5] In February 2020, it was reported that Asahi Kasei was prepared to supply Apple with tens of millions of ultra-wideband (UWB) parts for the rumored AirTag in the second and third quarters of 2020, though the shipment was ultimately delayed.[6] On April 2, 2020, a YouTube video on Apple Support[7] page also confirmed AirTag.[8] In Apple's iOS 14.0 release, code was discovered that described the reusable and removable battery that would be used in the AirTag. In March 2021, MacWorld stated that iOS 14.5 beta's Find My user interface included "Items" and "Accessories" features meant for AirTag support for a user's "backpack, luggage, headphones" and other objects. AppleInsider noted that the beta included safety warnings for "unauthorized AirTags" persistently in the user's vicinity.

In May, 2024, Bloomberg reported that Apple was preparing a new version of the AirTag, code named B589.[9] [10]

Features

AirTags can be interacted with using the Find My app. Users may trigger the AirTag to play a sound from the app. iPhones equipped with the U1 chip can use "Precision Tracking" to provide direction to and precise distance from an AirTag. Precision Tracking utilizes ultra-wideband.[11]

AirTags are not satellite navigation devices. AirTags are located on a map within the Find My app by utilizing Bluetooth signals from other anonymous iOS and iPadOS devices out in the world. To help prevent unwanted tracking, an iOS/iPadOS device will alert their owner if someone else's AirTag seems to be with them, instead of with the AirTag's owner, for too long.[12] If an AirTag is out of range of any Apple device for more than 8 to 24 hours,[13] it will begin to beep to alert a person that an AirTag may have been placed in their possessions.[14]

Users can mark an AirTag as lost and provide a phone number and a message. Any iPhone user can see this phone number and message with the "Identify Found Item" feature within the Find My app, which utilizes near-field communication (NFC) technology. Additionally, Android and Windows 10 Mobile phones with NFC can identify an AirTag with a tap, which will redirect to a website containing the message and phone number.[15]

AirTag requires an Apple ID and iOS or iPadOS 14.5 or later.[16] It uses the CR2032 button cell, replaceable with one year of battery life (though some batteries with child-resistant bitterants cannot be used due to the design of the AirTag battery terminal).[17] The maximum range of Bluetooth tracking is estimated to be around 100 meters. The water-resistance of an AirTag is rated IP67 water and dust; an AirTag can withstand 30 minutes of water immersion in standard laboratory conditions. Each Apple ID is limited to 32 AirTags.[18]

Firmware version history

Apple does not provide a way for users to force an AirTag to carry out a firmware update.[19] Firmware updates may happen automatically whenever an AirTag is in Bluetooth range of the paired iPhone (running iOS 14.5 or later) and both devices have sufficient battery.[20]

Previous releaseCurrent release
VersionBuildDeployment LimitRelease DateRelease Notes
1.0.225Initial version at launch[21]
1.0.2761A276d[22] 2%Modifies the time period before an AirTag will play a sound after being separated from its owner. Originally three days, the update shortens the period to a randomized window ranging from eight to 24 hours.[23]
1A287a[24] 10%
1A287b[25] 100%
1.0.2911A291a[26] 1%Unknown
1A291c[27] 10%
1A291e[28] 25%
1A291f[29] 100%
1.0.3011A301[30] 1%Tuning the unwanted tracking sound to more easily locate an unknown AirTag.
10%
25%
100%
2.0.242A24e[31] 1%
10%
25%
100%
2.0.362A36[32] 25%Resolves an issue with the accelerometer not activating in certain scenarios.
100%
2.0.612A61[33] 1%Bug fixes and other improvements.
10%
25%
100%
2.0.732A73[34] 1% March 19, 2024No declared release notes.[35]
10%March 26, 2024
25%April 2, 2024
100%April 9, 2024

Applications

Tracking checked luggage

AirTags have become extremely popular among travelers to track checked luggage on flights and empower them when luggage is lost by carriers.[36] [37] [38] [39] In response, Lufthansa stated that AirTags were not permissible in luggage checked with the carrier.[40] [41] [42] [43] The carrier backtracked after a risk assessment by German risk authorities following widespread criticism and accusations that it was seeking to avoid accountability.[44] [45] The Federal Aviation Administration has ruled that storing AirTags in checked luggage is permitted and not a safety hazard despite containing batteries.[46]

Theft prevention and recovery

AirTags have been used to track stolen property and assist police in recovering them for return to their rightful owners.[47] In February 2023, a North Carolina family discovered that their car had been stolen. In coordination with local police, they utilized an AirTag placed in the vehicle to locate the car and were able to recover their property.[48] Police were reportedly elated at the ease at which they were able to arrest the criminals and recover the property thanks to the AirTags.[49]

Criticism

Stalking ability

Despite Apple's including of technologies to help prevent unwanted tracking or stalking, The Washington Post found that it was "frighteningly easy" to bypass the systems put in place. It has been described as 'a gift to stalkers'.[50] Concerns included the built-in audible alarm taking three days to sound, and the fact that most Americans had Android devices that would not receive alerts about nearby AirTags that iPhone devices receive.[51] AirTags cannot have most of their components replaced correctly, but it has been found that AirTags with their speakers forcibly removed from the rest of the components were being used to track people. The AirTag cannot detect this change, making it harder for people to find out that an AirTag had been stalking them.[52] AirTags with their speakers removed have been found for sale on sites like eBay and Etsy.[53] In January 2022, BBC News spoke to six women who stated that they found unregistered AirTags inside things such as cars and bags.[54]

In late 2021, Apple released an app called Tracker Detect on the Google Play Store to help users of Android 9 or later to discover unknown AirTags near them in a "lost" state and potentially being used for malicious tracking purposes.[55] [56] However, the app does not run in the background.[57]

In February 2022, Apple added a warning for users setting up their AirTag, notifying them that using the device to track people is illegal and the device is only meant for tracking personal belongings.[58] It will take 8–24 hours for an AirTag to chirp if it has been separated from its owner.[59]

Tracking cars

The National Post in Canada reported that AirTags were placed on vehicles at shopping malls and parking lots without the drivers' knowledge, in order to track them to their homes, where the vehicles would be stolen.[60] In response, Apple announced just before WWDC 2021 that it had begun rolling out updates that would allow anyone with an NFC-capable phone to tap an unwanted AirTag for instructions on how to disable it, and that they had decreased the delay time for the audible alert that sounds after the AirTag is separated from its owner from three days to a random time between 8 and 24 hours.[61]

Trojan horse

Users who set their AirTags to lost mode are prompted to provide a contact phone number for finders to call. In September 2021, security researcher Brian Krebs, citing fellow security researcher Bobby Rauch,[62] reported that the phone number field will actually accept any type of input, including arbitrary computer code, opening up the potential use of AirTags as Trojan horse devices.[63]

Tile

Similar product manufacturer Tile criticized Apple for using similar technologies and designs to Tile's trackers. Spokespeople for Tile made a testimony to the United States Congress saying that Apple was supporting "anti-competitive practices",[64] claiming that Apple had done this in the past, and that they think it is "entirely appropriate for Congress to take a closer look at Apple's business practices".[65]

Loop

AirTags do not have holes or other mechanical features that would allow them to be positively attached or affixed to the item being tracked; solutions include adhesives (glue, tape) and purpose-built accessories. The polyurethane AirTag Loop is the least expensive solution sold by Apple; it costs the same as a single AirTag and has been criticized as an "accessory tax".[66]

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: Apple introduces AirTag .
  2. News: Chan . Christine . April 20, 2021 . Apple AirTags vs. Tile Mate: Which should you buy? . iMore . April 28, 2021.
  3. News: April 20, 2021 . Apple event: AirTag, iPad and iMac lead line-up . en-GB . . May 8, 2021.
  4. Web site: Perez . Sarah . Heater . Brian . April 20, 2021 . Apple officially unveils its lost item finder, AirTag . TechCrunch.
  5. Web site: Rambo . Guilherme . 2019-04-17 . Apple revamping Find My Friends & Find My iPhone in unified app, developing Tile-like personal item tracking . 2022-11-21 . . en-US.
  6. Web site: Haslam . Oliver . February 19, 2020 . Apple To Ramp Up UWB Chip Production For AirTags in Q2-Q3 2020 . Redmond Pie.
  7. Web site: April 2, 2020 . Exclusive: AirTags confirmed in a new Apple Support Video! . May 11, 2021 . Appleosophy . en-US.
  8. Web site: Apple accidentally confirms the existence of an unreleased product, AirTags . May 11, 2021 . TechCrunch . en-US .
  9. News: Apple Needs to Evolve to Compete in the Artificial Intelligence Era. Mark Gurman. May 19, 2024 .
  10. Web site: Tom's Guide. Apple AirTag 2 could finally arrive in mid-2025 — what we know so far. Tom . Pritchard. May 20, 2024.
  11. Web site: Panzarino . Matthew . April 22, 2021 . First findings with Apple's new AirTag location devices . TechCrunch.
  12. News: Haselton . Todd . April 27, 2021 . Here's how Apple's AirTag trackers compare to Tile, and why the company is so upset with Apple . CNBC . April 28, 2021.
  13. Web site: Clark . Mitchell . June 3, 2021 . Apple is updating AirTags to make them less creepy . June 4, 2021 . The Verge.
  14. News: Gruber . John . April 20, 2021 . Three day audible alert when tag separated from owner . Daring Fireball . April 20, 2021.
  15. News: Hollington . Jesse . June 20, 2021 . It Turns Out You Can Scan an Apple AirTag with an Old Windows Phone . iDrop News .
  16. Web site: Hicks . Michael . May 3, 2021 . How to use AirTags with iOS 14.5 . May 8, 2021 . TechRadar . en.
  17. News: Holland . Patrick . July 29, 2021 . Apple cautions that AirTag batteries with a bitter coating might not work . . January 6, 2022.
  18. Web site: Lovejoy . Ben . January 12, 2024 . AirTag limit increased to 32 – though AirPods may count as three of ’em . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240112222329/https://9to5mac.com/2024/01/12/airtag-limit/ . January 12, 2024 . June 5, 2024 . 9to5Mac.
  19. Web site: How to Check Your AirTags Firmware Version . Clover . Juli . April 29, 2022 . . January 5, 2024 .
  20. Web site: What's new in firmware updates for AirTag . November 13, 2023 . Apple Support . . January 5, 2024 .
  21. Web site: Apple rolling out new AirTag software update; here’s how to see if yours has updated . Miller . Chance . June 3, 2021 . . January 5, 2024 .
  22. Web site: Apple Enhancing AirTags Anti-Stalking Measures With Android App and Shorter Sound Intervals . Clover . Juli . June 3, 2021 . . January 5, 2024 .
  23. Web site: Ahead of WWDC, Apple bolsters AirTags privacy measures, says it's developing Android detector app . Sherr . Ian . June 7, 2021 . . January 5, 2024 .
  24. Web site: Durian Firmware 1.0.276 . Perris . Aaron . April 5, 2022 . AppleDB . January 5, 2024 .
  25. Web site: Apple Releases Revised AirTag Firmware Update . Clover . Juli . June 23, 2021 . . January 5, 2024 .
  26. Web site: Apple Releases New Firmware for AirTags . Clover . Juli . August 26, 2021 . . January 5, 2024 .
  27. Web site: Apple Releases Revised Version of Latest AirTags Firmware Update . Clover . Juli . August 31, 2021 . . January 5, 2024 .
  28. Web site: Apple Releases Another Revised Version of AirTags Firmware Update . Clover . Juli . September 7, 2021 . . January 5, 2024 .
  29. Web site: Apple Makes Latest AirTags Firmware Available to All Users . Clover . Juli . September 15, 2021 . . January 5, 2024 .
  30. Web site: Apple Releases Firmware Update for AirTags . Clover . Juli . April 26, 2022 . . January 5, 2024 .
  31. Web site: Apple Releases Firmware Update for AirTags . Clover . Juli . November 10, 2022 . . January 5, 2024 .
  32. Web site: Apple Releases AirTags Firmware Update . Clover . Juli . December 12, 2022 . . January 5, 2024 .
  33. Web site: Apple Releases New Firmware for AirTags . Clover . Juli . October 31, 2023 . . November 1, 2023 .
  34. Web site: 2024-03-19 . Apple Releases AirTag Firmware Update 2.0.73 . 2024-03-30 . iClarified . en.
  35. Web site: What’s new in firmware updates for AirTag . 2024-03-30 . Apple Support . en.
  36. Web site: Collins . Katie . Apple's AirTags for Your Checked Bags Are a Travel Essential . 2023-03-17 . CNET . en.
  37. Web site: 2023-01-03 . Why Apple's AirTags Are a Must for Frequent Fliers . 2023-03-17 . . en.
  38. Web site: 2022-12-07 . Apple AirTags Are the Best Luggage Trackers . 2023-03-17 . Wirecutter: Reviews for the Real World . en-US.
  39. Web site: Cann . Geraden . 2023-01-01 . The rules you need to know before putting a tracker or AirTag on your luggage . 2023-03-17 . Stuff . en.
  40. News: Victor . Daniel . 2022-10-11 . Lufthansa Says Passengers Can't Use Apple AirTags to Track Checked Bags . en-US . The New York Times . 2023-03-17 . 0362-4331.
  41. Web site: Lufthansa says it's banning flyers from using Apple AirTags to track baggage Venture . 2023-03-17 . dailyhive.com . en.
  42. Web site: Beschizza . Rob . 2022-10-08 . Lufthansa "bans AirTags in luggage" after passengers publicly shame it with location of lost bags . 2023-03-17 . . en-US.
  43. Web site: Hussain . Imran . 2022-10-13 . Lufthansa airline bans AirTags after passengers shame it for lost luggage [U: ban lifted] ]. 2023-03-17 . en-US.
  44. Web site: Schlappig . Ben . 2022-10-07 . Lufthansa Bans AirTags: Will Other Airlines Follow? . 2023-03-17 . One Mile at a Time . en-US.
  45. Web site: Lufthansa backtracks on AirTag ban . 2023-03-17 . Macworld . en.
  46. Web site: Krol . Jacob . 2022-03-08 . Why AirTags are the ultimate travel companion this spring break . 2023-03-17 . CNN Underscored . en.
  47. News: 2021-10-27 . Perspective I found my stolen Honda Civic using a Bluetooth tracker. It's the latest controversial weapon against theft. . 2023-03-17 . Washington Post . en.
  48. Web site: Rumpf . Sarah . 2023-02-10 . North Carolina family outsmart car thieves with Apple AirTag . . 2023-03-17 . en-US.
  49. Web site: 2023-02-06 . $29 AirTag helps Cary family, police locate stolen car within minutes . 2023-03-17 . WRAL.com . en.
  50. Web site: 2022-09-05 . 'I didn't want it anywhere near me': how the Apple AirTag became a gift to stalkers . 2022-09-05 . . en.
  51. News: Fowler . Geoffrey A . May 5, 2021 . Review – Apple's AirTag trackers made it frighteningly easy to 'stalk' me in a test . . 0190-8286.
  52. Web site: 'Silent AirTags' With Speakers Removed Pop Up on Etsy, eBay . 2022-08-20 . PCMAG . en.
  53. News: February 4, 2022 . 'Silent AirTags' With Speakers Off Are Sold Online To Stalk People: Here's How . en-IN . India Times . February 4, 2022.
  54. News: January 20, 2022 . Apple AirTags – 'A perfect tool for stalking' . en-GB . BBC News . January 20, 2022.
  55. News: December 14, 2021 . Apple launches Android app to address AirTags tracker fears . en-GB . BBC News .
  56. Web site: Apple releases Tracker Detect app to help Android users to find nearby AirTags . February 4, 2022 . Gadget Lite . en-US .
  57. Web site: February 10, 2022 . New Apple Update Targets AirTag Tracking Concerns . Wall Street Journal.
  58. News: Milmo . Dan . February 10, 2022 . Apple to start warning AirTag users not to use devices to track people . en-UK . The Guardian . February 11, 2022.
  59. News: Kelly . Samantha Murphy . February 10, 2022 . Apple plans AirTag updates to curb unwanted tracking . 1 . CNN News . February 12, 2022.
  60. News: Kulha . Shari . December 10, 2021 . Here's what to do if you find an AirTag placed in your vehicle by a car thief . . December 12, 2021.
  61. News: Sherr . Ian . June 7, 2021 . Ahead of WWDC, Apple bolsters AirTags privacy measures, says it's developing Android detector app . .
  62. Web site: Krebs . Brian . Apple AirTag Bug Enables ‘Good Samaritan’ Attack . KrebsOnSecurity.com . The vulnerability was discovered and reported to Apple by Bobby Rauch, a security consultant and penetration tester based in Boston. Rauch told KrebsOnSecurity the AirTag weakness makes the devices cheap and possibly very effective physical trojan horses..
  63. News: Krebs . Brian . Apple AirTag Bug Enables 'Good Samaritan' Attack . en-US . . September 30, 2021 . Brian Krebs.
  64. Web site: Tile bemoans Apple AirTags launch, raises antitrust concerns . May 8, 2021 . AppleInsider . April 20, 2021 . en.
  65. Web site: Tile bashes Apple's new AirTag as unfair competition . May 8, 2021 . TechCrunch . en-US .
  66. Web site: April 21, 2021 . Apple's AirTags don't have a built-in keychain loop, and we have some thoughts . The Verge.