Apple AirTags cause robbery and stalking in the United States

• Apple AirTags has caused concern among users and officials in North America

• The use of apple products led to robbery and harassment

• The company analyzes how to protect users

On Thursday, Apple announced that it was making improvements to its AirDec devices, making it harder for people to use them to track others without their knowledge.

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AirTags, a small disk that Apple began selling last year for $ 29 (£ 130) to help people track items such as keys, wallets and phones, has become a headache for the company. On social media and in interviews people said they found devices hidden in their cars and belongings, thus fearing that they would be pursued.

One woman, Ashley Estrada, told the New York Times that the Air Tag had been monitoring her for four hours in Los Angeles and had recently received a notice that the device had been found on the back of her license plate.

AirDacs use Bluetooth technology to ping nearby nearby Apple devices, which then report the last known location of the AirDac to the device which is being used to track anything. Apple has said that some built-in features such as automatic beeping and notification on iPhones that AirTake is nearby may help prevent misuse, but privacy experts and those who fear being harassed may not find these features easy enough. Carriers of phones using Google’s Android software.

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Law enforcement officials have warned that the devices could be used in car theft attempts. The women also said they found airdocks hidden in their cars and in their belongings and sometimes called police.

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Apple’s changes, which will be introduced this year, include the ability for detectives near the airtake to use their iPhone to detect the airtake by sound, haptic perception and visual feedback.

If the sound is not audible, users’ devices will display an alert when a nearby airdeck beep is sounded, and people will have the option to increase the airdeck beeps so that they can easily detect the tracking device. Apple said the iPhones will soon upgrade its alarm system to let people know that unknown airtights could travel with them.

Apple added that it was aware of “reports of bad actors attempting to misuse the air tag for malicious or criminal purposes.” The company said it had worked with security committees and law enforcement officials to identify necessary changes, but declined to comment beyond its report.