"The problem with Bluetooth trackers … is there's no way to prevent a victim from being stalked by one of these devices because they don't control it. Attaching these devices to cars has been common, but there have been cases of victims finding these trackers on themselves - one victim reported a Bluetooth tagging device taped inside her duffel bag and another found one hidden in her coat after a night out. There have been several crimes reported involving the use of Bluetooth tagging devices to stalk victims, specifically younger women and women being stalked by former spouses or relationship partners. The risk of stalking is real, tech companies are addressing it Here are some basics to know about Bluetooth tags if you're using one already, or considering adding one to your tech-enabled life.
"You have something that it's intended use and it's malicious use are almost identical." "If you want to track somebody, that's what these are designed for, and that's where the problem really comes in," Cappos said. Tags are being put to nefarious uses, including to stalk individuals. That doesn't change the fact that as with most of the technological advances occurring at an accelerated rate in recent decades, from phones to social media and AI, there is never a breakthrough that arrives without a potential downside. Personal Loans for 670 Credit Score or Lowerīut the idea of tags to track people, specifically, is where the controversy has been introduced as part of this technology's adoption.įrom Apple's AirTag to Samsung's Galaxy SmartTag to Life360's Tile, there are many options in the Bluetooth tagging device market offering security and peace of mind, but notably, the company's in the market, from Apple to Life360, have made clear these devices were never designed to track people - Apple's product messaging focuses only on personal items. Personal Loans for 580 Credit Score or Lower
Stalking isn’t cool, in any context, and is often illegal.Best Debt Consolidation Loans for Bad Credit Just make sure everyone who uses the vehicle is fully aware of the AirTag’s presence. If you share a family car or have lent your car to someone, it helps you locate them without having to call them. The other reason is simply to know where someone is. You’d have to catch the perpetrators in the act. Note, however, that AirTags provide no location history, you only get the last known location. If you can show, for example, that your car is 30 miles from where it should be when you left it with the airport parking firm, that is pretty strong evidence. I can see this being particularly useful in places such as theme parks or shopping malls, where one parking lot looks much like another.Īn AirTag might also prove useful is you suspect a repairer or valet parking is up to no good with your car. There are other strong reasons, besides straight theft, why it might be handy to have an AirTag sat in your car permanently.įor one, it can help you find the car if you’ve forgotten where you’ve parked it. Other reasons to leave an AirTag in a car That again may alert a thief to its presence. The AirTag might also beep to draw attention to itself after a sustained period away from its owner. However, that won’t kick in for 72 hours after the AirTag was last in range of its owner, so you should have a decent window to locate a stolen car. If the thief uses a modern iPhone, they may trigger Apple’s anti-stalking feature, which pops an alert on their phone to say that an unknown AirTag is moving with them. That said, there may be one or two telltale signs for the thieves. You could even slip the tiny AirTag disc in the lining of the car or under a small incision the carpet, making it very hard for thieves to know they are being tracked. My partner has put the AirTag in various hidden locations within the car this week, including in the glove box and in a compartment in the boot and the device has continued to send a location beacon. That would make it much easier for car thieves to spot and discard. One concern you might have about using an AirTag to track your car is whether the device has to be placed in open sight to send/receive a signal (ie.
AirTags are small enough to easily hide in a car Getty Images
0 kommentar(er)
