Spouse AirTag Stalking

What is AirTag?

AirTag is a device created by Apple that helps you locate lost items using the Find My network. It’s powered by a button battery. It’s small enough to fit on your keychain and comes with an affordable price tag—all of which make AirTag ideal for keeping track of bags, suitcases, bikes, and even pets.

After setting up an AirTag using your iPhone or iPad, you can attach it to almost anything and then monitor its location in the Find My app like you would track another iPhone, Mac, AirPods, or Beats headphones. If you’re having trouble finding it, you can even ask it to play a sound.

AirTag is dust and water-resistant, so you won’t have to worry about it getting dirty or wet. It’ll last more than a year before its battery needs replacing. When Apple launched AirTag in 2021, it received criticism for copying Tile. But thanks to the Find My network, AirTag is much more versatile.

How does AirTag work?

AirTag uses Bluetooth LE technology to report its location to the Find My network, but it doesn’t have Wi-Fi to connect directly to the internet. Instead, it relies on the millions of Apple devices that are in use today.

This means that even if your AirTag is inside a suitcase thousands of miles away on the other side of the world, it will be able to talk to a nearby iPhone, iPad, or Mac and update its location information, which you’ll then see inside the Find My app.

AirTag also packs Ultra Wideband tech, thanks to the Apple U1 chip, for precision finding. If you have an iPhone 11 or later, you can use its camera, accelerometer, and gyroscope to see accurate directions to a nearby AirTag in real time. You’ll even get sounds and haptic feedback along the way.

This makes AirTag surprisingly sophisticated and more advanced than competing tracking devices for such a small device that’s powered by a standard CR2032 battery—the same kind you might find inside your car key. But, its size, affordability, and effectiveness have led to some privacy concerns.

How to know if your spouse is stalking you using AirTag

One of the biggest concerns about AirTag is its ability to track people as well as things. If you see an alert on your phone that says a random AirTag is “found moving with you,” it’s one of the signs of a stalker monitoring your movements using Apple’s tiny tracker. This could be your spouse or someone else.

Here are all the steps you can take to find out if your spouse or someone else is using an AirTag to stalk you:

1. “AirTag found moving with you” notification
2. Automatic sound alerts
3. Manual scanning of trackers
4. AirTags physical search

1. “AirTag found moving with you” notification

This alert appears when your smartphone detects an AirTag that’s separated from its owner and is seen moving with you over a period of time. It won’t appear if you briefly pass an AirTag while walking down the street. But if an AirTag is “following” you because it’s been hidden in your bag or coat, it will soon appear.

It’s important not to ignore this notification if it appears on your iPhone or Android device. Open it to find more information, including a map showing where the AirTag has been seen with you. This will allow you to see if it was picked up in a random place, perhaps accidentally or at home.

It’s important to note that monitoring you with an AirTag is just one of the many ways a spouse, ex, friend, or acquaintance might try to track you. To completely stop cyberstalking and increase your security, we recommend running a scan on your phone with Clario Anti Spy to detect and remove all spyware.

Here is how to run a deep Spyware scan with Clario Anti Spy:

1. Download Clario Anti Spy and set up an account.
2. Tap Run deep scan in the Spyware scan section and follow the prompts.

2. Automatic sound alerts

An AirTag separated from its owner for a long period of time will start to emit a sound when it’s moved. This alerts people nearby that an AirTag is there. If you hear this sound and find an AirTag that’s seemingly lost, you can use NFC on your iPhone or Android to scan the device for more information.

Within the “About This AirTag” screen on your device, you’ll be able to see the tracker’s serial number and a contact number for its owner if it’s lost. This will allow you to contact the owner and return the device if you wish to do so.

3. Manual scanning of trackers

If an unknown accessory is detected near you and you worry you may have missed the “AirTag found moving with you” notification, you can search for trackers manually using the Find My app. Try this:

1. Open the Find My app, then tap the Items tab at the bottom.
2. If an AirTag is following you, you’ll see an Items Detected With You section here. You can select this to see more details about nearby AirTag devices.

If you don’t see “Items Detected With You” in the Find My app, it means that your iPhone doesn’t see any unknown AirTags that have moved with you. That doesn’t mean, however, that another type of tracker isn’t monitoring your location, so you should still be vigilant if you have genuine concerns.

It’s also important to remember that there are other ways to stalk someone that are more difficult to detect. People often ask, can someone track your location with your phone number, and the answer is yes. Be mindful of the different methods stalkers use, and don’t assume you’re safe just because there are no AirTags nearby.

4. AirTags physical search

In many cases, the best way to find an AirTag or another tracking device that’s following you is to simply perform a physical search for it. Check all the places where someone could hide an AirTag to keep track of your location, including all the pockets in your coat, the soles of your shoes, and throughout all your bags.

Another important place to check is your car or bike. There are lots of places where stalkers can hide an AirTag and other trackers inside a vehicle, so search carefully to make sure you’ve turned over every stone. Don’t ignore hiding spots outside the car, like in wheel arches and behind bumpers.

What to do if your spouse is stalking you with an AirTag

If your spouse is tracking you with an AirTag, first remove its battery, which will stop it from reporting its location. You can do this by taking off the metal cover on the AirTag’s back. Next, notify your local authorities.

It may be difficult to report a spouse or friend for tracking you, but don’t forget that stalking is illegal—and a serious invasion of your privacy. You might be wondering, what is stalking in a relationship? In addition to location tracking, it can include following you around, bothering your friends and family, and more.

Conclusion

Apple has taken steps to prevent AirTag buyers from using the device to track other people. If your spouse tries to use an AirTag to track you, you’ll get a notification on your iOS or Android device that tells you an AirTag has been “found moving with you.” You can also search for trackers in the Find My app.

However, AirTag isn’t the only tracker you should be aware of. To stop your spouse and others from following you and monitoring your activities using smartphone spyware, use Clario Anti Spy to scan your device for threats. It can also help you mask your real location and show you who’s touched your phone.