Apple has the ability to innovate with all kinds of products that nobody expected. But she is also an expert at copying what others have done, selling it as innovation, and taking it by storm. We have a good example in its locator. But, Can AirTag be used to spy on your Android phone?
The question has its crumb because one thing must be very clear: Apple's AirTag is not fully compatible with Android. So it is not a good idea to buy it for it. But yes, an AirTag can be used to spy on your Android.
What is the Apple AirTag
An AirTag is a tracking device created by Apple. It's about a small device that can be placed in personal belongings, such as keys, wallets, backpacks, etc., to be able to locate them easily in case of loss or misplacement.
Small and light devices, with a circular and smooth design, as you will see in the image that accompanies this article. Obviously, it is not an innovative product, since previously there were a few products that worked in the same way. But Apple popularized its AirTag as an innovation, and the truth is that it turned out really well.
How Apple AirTag works
The AirTag uses Bluetooth technology to connect wirelessly with the user's iPhone or iPad. Through Apple's Find My app, the location of the AirTag, and therefore the object it's attached to, can be tracked. It is also possible to play a sound on the AirTag to help find it if it is nearby.
Additionally, if the AirTag is out of range of the user's device, the existing Apple device network can be leveraged to help locate it. This means that if another Apple device is found near the missing AirTag, an encrypted and anonymous signal will be sent to Apple's servers, and the AirTag owner will then receive a notification with the approximate location.
As you will see, the idea is not bad. You place an AirTag on an object that you want to control and, if you move away from it, a notification will pop up on your mobile and the Apple device will begin to beep to notify you of the situation.
And in the event that you cannot find it for whatever reason, through the Apple app you will be able to locate the last position of the AirTag. Be careful, this product does not have GPS, so you will not know the location in real time, but rather the last location of the object where you use the Apple AirTag.
Can I use the AirTag on Android?
The AirTag is primarily designed to work with Apple devices.such as the iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch. Apple has integrated AirTag functionality into its ecosystem of apps and services, such as Find My, which is natively available on Apple devices.
However, Since the iOS 14.5 update, Apple introduced a feature called “Lost Mode with Article Notice”. This feature allows AirTags and other third-party object trackers to be used with Android devices through the Find My app. This means that if someone finds a lost AirTag, they can use an Android device to read the information from the AirTag and contact the owner using the data provided.
This means that You can use an Android to read the AirTag information and be able to locate the owner if you find this device next to an object. But you are not going to be able to configure the AirTag on your Android phone in any way.
So how do I use an AirTag to spy on my Android?
Well, very simple. With leaving the Apple tracker near your Android device, you are already lost. Suppose you carry the phone with a case. When was the last time you removed it from your mobile? It's been a long time for sure. Well, they may have hidden an AirTag without problem.
Or you can also leave it in your bag, a backpack... There is no shortage of options to use an AirTag and spy on an Android phone. Obviously, we are not talking about controlling what you do with the phone, nothing could be further from the truth. But at all times they will know your location,,
Apple quickly realized that its product was a double-edged sword. So the company did not hesitate to launch an application available in the Google Play Store that allows you to detect if there is an AirTag nearby so that it does not spy on you. But it doesn't work at all.
The criticisms are brutal, but in a negative way. Take a walk through the app on Google Play, and you will see that the truth is that it is useless. That said, if you have a device that is not an iPhone, they will be able to use an AirTag to spy on your Android. Unless you drop the dough. Mainly because we have found an app that does have good ratings when it comes to locating possible Apple AirTags that are used to spy on your Android. We leave you the link, although it costs more than 4 euros, if you are concerned about this issue, they will be very well invested
And what if you have an iPhone? Well, in this case they do have a function that allows you to detect any AirTag nearby. The worst of all? That this function does work as it should.
Google to the rescue to prevent AirTags from being used to spy on your Android
Luckily, and as reported at the time from The Verge, Google and Apple are working on a real solution. To that end, both companies are working on a Bluetooth specification that can limit security risks associated with AirTags and other Bluetooth-enabled tracking devices.
A new standard that will have a “unauthorized tracking detection and alerts” system on Android and iOS devices. A system that will alert people when they detect that they are being spied on. In addition, other companies that make similar tracking devices, such as Tile, Chipolo, Eufy Security, Samsung, and Pebblebee, already agree to the proposed standard.
"We built AirTag and Find My Network with a suite of proactive features to discourage unwanted tracking, an industry first, and we continue to make improvements to help ensure the technology is used as intended.”, Ron Huang, Vice President of Apple. detection and connectivity, he says in a statement. “This new industry specification builds on AirTag protections and, through collaboration with Google, results in a critical step to help combat unwanted tracking on iOS and Android.”