Location trackers existed before Apple's AirTags, but they rarely worked as well. The reason: The majority of all Apple devices together form the so-called Find My network, which enables constant location tracking. The AirTags send a Bluetooth signal that is recognized by these devices. These in turn communicate the location to the owner via iCloud. "Many people don't even know that AirTags exist and therefore don't know what unintended side effects they can have," says Gerhardt. In this case, unwanted side effects mean crimes such as stalking or theft. With a diameter of just 31 millimetres and a thickness of 8 millimetres, the location trackers are hardly noticeable and can be easily attached to cars, bags or bicycles. And the range is set to grow: manufacturers such as Google and Samsung have already announced that they will be launching similar trackers on the market.
Apple has certainly made efforts to prevent the misuse of AirTags. For example, a warning tone sounds if AirTags are separated from their owners for a long time. In addition, notifications on smartphones alert people when a stranger's AirTag is in their immediate vicinity for a longer period of time. "Unfortunately, these anti-stalking functions are not yet effective enough in my view. For example, the notification often comes very late. And if I'm already at home and a stalker already knows where I live, it doesn't help me much," says Gerhardt. The warning tone is also easy to miss if people are not in a quiet environment. Gerhardt wants to substantiate these and similar observations with his research and thus lay the foundation for improving the anti-stalking functions of AirTags in the future.
According to the researcher, it is not quite so easy to recommend how users should behave until then. After all, the technology is out there, is being sold on a massive scale and is likely to become even more widespread in the future with the products of other manufacturers. " The problem is only going to get bigger." However, no one needs to live in constant uncertainty and feel like they are constantly being followed. "But a little caution and mindfulness can't hurt. However, it is up to us, the people who create such technology, to ensure that they don't put anyone at a disadvantage," says Gerhardt.
If you want to know more about the topic and his research, you should listen to the latest episode of CISPA TL;DR.
TL;DR, short for "To Long Didn't' Read," is the name of our CISPA podcast, with "Women in Cybersecurity" as a special edition. It has been on the air since 2022, and it's available on all major podcast platforms. Each month, we talk to CISPA researchers about their work on cybersecurity issues and artificial intelligence, and try to ask them the exact questions that listeners are asking themselves. Our goal is to explain complex topics in simple language. As people from 43 nations work at CISPA, the conversations are recorded in German and English, alternating between the two languages.
