Communications of the ACM
Apple AirTags Can Track Lost Suitcase, but Slow to Alert for Stalking
Student researchers studying to whether Apple’s anti-stalking mechanisms worked on AirTags found the safety measures on the devices can be bypassed.
Credit: Alyssa Stone/Northeastern University
A study by Northeastern University researchers found that notifications to iPhone users of their close proximity to an unknown AirTag are not timely and can be bypassed.
The researchers paired an AirTag to a master device that was left in one location, then brought the AirTag with an unassociated iPhone to determine how long it took to receive the notifications at different times of day and in different locations.
They found the notifications arrived within 30 minutes to nine hours, with faster alerts occurring at night, when the victim was within four meters of the main device, or when they were at home, work, or another place they frequent.
Additionally, the researchers found AirTags can be reconfigured to bypass the notifications.
Apple and Google researchers reportedly are collaborating on methods for notifying users of unwanted tracking devices.
From Northeastern Global News
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