How to Know If You Are Being Followed by AirTags Apple
AirTags have yet to appear – at least when we wrote this – but the often rumored, coin-sized tracking devices should be coming soon. And when they do, Apple is already building security features into iOS 14.5 so people can’t secretly track you by attaching a tiny tracker to your belongings (or tossing it in your bag, or otherwise, some Mission Impossible wannabe . can go about their spy games.).
IOS 14.5 beta for developers has a new option enabled by default called Item Security Alerts. You will find the setting in the “Me” section of the ” Find Me” application. And while you can turn it off, I wouldn’t recommend doing it for pretty obvious reasons, which Apple describes in the warning popup:
While we’re just speculating at this point, I’m guessing the Apple integration will also allow you to alert you if a non-Apple tracker moves near your device’s general location. Back in 2020, Apple announced that it plans to open Find Me to third-party devices, like all the various Bluetooth trackers you can buy now to keep your belongings safe. Ideally, this anti-stalking measure will work on any physical tracking device that can recognize an iPhone.
Once the feature launches and AirTags officially debuts, you can add and find tracked devices through the Items tab in Find My. Feel free to click on this tab are now, if you are in beta. to see what the start screen might look like.
However, there is not much you can do at the moment.
Apple’s next big keynote is rumored to be on March 23rd, where we will supposedly see the debut of AirTags, as well as potential new iPad Pros, Apple TVs and AirPods.
There’s no word yet on how much ultra-wideband trackers might cost, but I suspect you’ll be paying a lot of money – in other words, a tax on Apple – for the functionality they offer. However, if they are based on a combination of Bluetooth and ultra-wideband connectivity, you will get much more accurate results for their locations than just Bluetooth: centimeters versus meters, basically. Add to that the rumored Find My augmented reality interface that you can use to locate your lost device, and it definitely sounds like a great way to keep track of your belongings … or maybe just your precious belongings. … Let’s hope they have a replaceable battery, at least for their price.