14 DAY TRIAL // Apple launched the AirTag earlier this week, with the company finally providing users with an easy way to keep track of their items using ultra-wideband U1 technology.
While similar tags have been around for a while, some even released by Apple’s main rivals in the mobile market, the AirTag is still likely to appeal to iPhone buyers who want to track things like keys or other valuables.
But one thing that Apple hasn’t publicly announced is that an AirTag in lost mode can even be found by an Android device.
The company confirms on a support page that any device with NFC sensor can view a Lost Mode message.
Privacy features
At the same time, Apple also explains that AirTag was designed with privacy in mind, so it can’t be used to track people without them knowing.
“AirTag was designed with privacy at its core. AirTag has unique Bluetooth identifiers that change frequently. This helps prevent you from being tracked from place to place. When the Find My network is used to locate an offline device or AirTag, everyone’s information is protected with end-to-end encryption. No one, including Apple, knows the location or identity of any of the participating users or devices who help locate a missing AirTag,” the company says.
And at the same time, if an AirTag is moving with you over time, you should receive a notification to let you know about it.
“AirTag has also been designed to discourage unwanted tracking. To discourage tracking without your knowledge, Find My will notify you if an unknown AirTag is seen moving with you over time. An AirTag that isn't with the person who registered it for an extended period of time will also play a sound when moved so you can find it, even if you don’t use an iOS device,” Apple says.