Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Silenced AirTags with disabled speakers are popping up for sale online

gizmodo.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

81–90 of 404 posts

Re: Silenced AirTags with disabled speakers are popping up for sale online

#81

Post by nicce »

gtm1260 wrote: post #45
rootusrootus wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A quick search on Amazon for 'gps tracker' will yield at least one option on the first page for $29.99. GSM for communications. Not as small as an AirTag, but 1.5 inches by 0.9 by 0.6 inches isn't exactly huge either. A legitimate point is that the battery life isn't great. But that's not too hard to solve, if you tolerate a little more space for a bigger battery. I'm sure there are even better options out there, tha…

There are plenty of trackers, but they require monthly subscriptions!

Exactly. Somehow need to send that data.

Re: Silenced AirTags with disabled speakers are popping up for sale online

#82

Post by rolobio »

BiteCode_dev wrote: post #69
rolobio wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Tile does not have nearly the network that Apple does. I attached an AirTag to an electric scooter, which I ended up returning. I forgot to remove the AirTag; I've been able to track the scooter over hundreds of miles with quick updates (even driving down a freeway). I've been having a fun time checking in on the scooter for months now. I have a Tile attached to a generator at my house. Since I've disabled Tile on my…

> I attached an AirTag to an electric scooter, which I ended up returning. I forgot to remove the AirTag; I've been able to track the scooter over hundreds of miles with quick updates (even driving down a freeway). I've been having a fun time checking in on the scooter for months now. That story alone is horrifying and a reason by itself this thing should be illegal. Also, what you are doing is not ok.

Should I drive over a thousand miles to pull it off? What do you expect me to do? I'm not sure what will happen if I disown it, it will probably attempt to be owned by whoever walks by? Can I disown an AirTag without being near it? And if someone who works for Fedex suddenly owns the AirTag, has the situation improved?

I really don't know what you expect me to do. I did this by accident. I thought it was funny.

Re: Silenced AirTags with disabled speakers are popping up for sale online

#83

Post by smoldesu »

steelbrain wrote: post #64
willcipriano wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is a place for a generic open protocol. To have a real internet of things we need some kind of DNS but for objects.

> This is a place for a generic open protocol. Not sure if you've seen but Apple opened the Find-My network to other vendors: https://www.apple.com/ee/newsroom/2021/04/apples-find-my-net...

...but didn't open the protocol to third parties. In other words, it's as "open" as the lightning connector is: "pay us $x for every product you ship, and we won't sue you for using it"

Apple's marketing must train in the Matrix for how good they are at dodging bullets...

Re: Silenced AirTags with disabled speakers are popping up for sale online

#84

Post by ed25519FUUU »

Anyone who would use these to stalk someone is an idiot. They’re tied to your Apple ID. It’s not at all anonymous. Apple warns people about the abuse.

There’s a million GPS trackers for sale online that are near anonymous. The AirTag is a horrible device used to stalk people.

Re: Silenced AirTags with disabled speakers are popping up for sale online

#85

Post by ornornor »

shiftpgdn wrote: post #73
errcorrectcode wrote: post #71

Anecdotal regional issue: I had an AirTag on my AirPod Pro's case that was stolen. I immediately notified Austin's police (APD) as I could see where it was going. Unfortunately, due to understaffing of 100-200 police officers and detectives, most calls unrelated to imminent threats of injury or death aren't being handle for days or ever. So, it's open-season on packages and property because APD can't or won't do its…

This is every major city right now, unfortunately.

In North America. Not every major city in the whole developed world.

Re: Silenced AirTags with disabled speakers are popping up for sale online

#86

Post by flounder3 »

errcorrectcode wrote: post #76
shiftpgdn wrote: post #73

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is every major city right now, unfortunately.

Which? Where?

San Francisco. Los Angeles. Seattle. San Jose (albeit theft has never received attention in San Jose)

Re: Silenced AirTags with disabled speakers are popping up for sale online

#89

Post by rootusrootus »

iso1631 wrote: post #63
rootusrootus wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> have to link every Airtag to a real identity Isn't it already linked to your Apple account? Take the AirTag to the cops, they ask Apple who it belongs to.

Not sure why you're being downvoted, valid question. I don't know how they work, but I assume they are linked to an account. Why even involve the cops - if you have an airtag, you should be able to scan it's code and it reveals the account holder's name.

> Why even involve the cops - if you have an airtag, you should be able to scan it's code and it reveals the account holder's name.

That's easy. If you find my house keys, I'd rather you couldn't just look up my address.

I don't know if Apple makes it easy or not, but I'd certainly like to be able to push a notification to the AirTag owner if I have found one of their things. At least so I can send them a message "I dropped this off at the local police station so you can pick it up" etc, or something along those lines.

Re: Silenced AirTags with disabled speakers are popping up for sale online

#90

Post by rolobio »

jdminhbg wrote: post #65
rolobio wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Tile does not have nearly the network that Apple does. I attached an AirTag to an electric scooter, which I ended up returning. I forgot to remove the AirTag; I've been able to track the scooter over hundreds of miles with quick updates (even driving down a freeway). I've been having a fun time checking in on the scooter for months now. I have a Tile attached to a generator at my house. Since I've disabled Tile on my…

> I attached an AirTag to an electric scooter, which I ended up returning. I forgot to remove the AirTag; I've been able to track the scooter over hundreds of miles with quick updates (even driving down a freeway). I've been having a fun time checking in on the scooter for months now. This describes how 99% of these "AirTags Used In Stalking Incident" stories come about.

Honestly I was worried I would have a knock at my door from this. The AirTag will make it quite clear who owns it.

But I expect someone familiar with returned items will say "Oh, someone forgot to remove their AirTag again. Throw it in the garbage." So hopefully no knocks at my door.

Post reply on HN