Smart tags were created to
help solve life's annoyances
like when misplacing your keys.
You can't seem to find them.
But with the smart tag,
they can be easily located.
However, these helpful tracking
devices in the wrong hands are being
used to stalk people with January.
Being national Stocking month,
we've brought into expert Burton
Council to breakdown what we can
all do to prevent someone from
following us when using these tags.
Welcome Burton.
Hey Desiree, how are you good good?
We're doing good so how are people using
smart tags or air tags to stop people?
Well, on the surface it looks like air
tags and smart tags only use Bluetooth,
but that's not the case.
Both Apple and Samsung have set
up these devices to allow them to
piggyback on other people's devices,
and it works almost like GPS location.
So if you had a normal Bluetooth
device under normal circumstances
it can only reach 500 feet,
but with an air tag or a smart tag
someone can trace you across town,
which makes these devices a
little bit dangerous if you don't
know what you're doing.
Yeah, I was going to say it makes
it dangerous in the wrong hands.
So what can someone who has
a stalker or known abuser do?
Who uses these tags?
Well, the first thing is comforting
because if you have an Apple
device or smartphone and someone,
plants and air tag on you,
your Apple device will pop up and let you
know there's an unknown air tag and the
same thing works with Android devices,
although you do have to download the
SmartThings app for Samsung so if
someone puts the same type of device,
smart tag or air tag on you,
your device will pop up and let you know
that there is an unknown device there.
You can use sound to locate the device.
And you will even get instructions on how
to remove the battery from the smart tag.
Well, that's good to know that there
is a some type of notification in
case something like that happens.
And what if someone is in
a crowded public place?
Let's say a bar.
What should they do to
make sure they stay safe?
Well, when you go into crowded places,
you always want to make sure when you
leave that crowded place to make sure
that someone hasn't planted an air tag
or a smart tag in your pocket or purse,
or even on your vehicle.
I know it's a little bit hard to do on
vehicles, but you still should do a check.
Also, you can download a Bluetooth scanner
because these devices use Bluetooth scanner,
so they make apps that will find
Bluetooth devices that are within
your vicinity so you can double check
and make sure there's not as strange.
Artag or Smarttag following you home.
OK good to know and how can people
check if they are being tracked?
Well again you can download Bluetooth app.
One of the best ones is a BLE
tracker which is available for
both Android and Samsung devices.
But it will scan the area.
Let you know if there's any
Bluetooth devices around you,
but then again it also pays to be
vigilant and make sure that you
do check yourself to make sure no
one has planted any device on you
and if an error tag or smart tag is
detected, how can you turn it off?
Well, you can remove the battery
from the device to turn it off.
Also, if you do detect an unknown tracker,
the app will let you know if
it's just simply been lost,
but if it hasn't been lost and
you need to immediately take the
air tag or the smart tag to law
enforcement to notify them that
someone has planted the device on you,
OK, I was going to ask,
so if you're being tracked with the tag,
there does come a point where
maybe you should get law
enforcement involved, correct?
Yes, always when there's a
stalking situation involved.
You definitely need to get
law enforcement involved.
You don't want to try to take it upon
yourself to find the owner of the tag.
Always go to law enforcement to
make sure that they can follow up
and make sure that they apprehend
the person that is trying to stalk
you. Burton, these tips were very helpful.
Thank you so much for telling us about
them and for more useful tech tips, check
out Burton's blog page at burtonkelso.com.