Personal Cybersecurity (Part 42): Travel Stress-Free: Know Where Your Bags Are at All Times

Losing luggage while travelling is frustrating, especially for families with children or seniors. Fortunately, modern tracking technologies like Apple AirTags and Android alternatives provide an easy way to keep track of your belongings and reduce travel anxiety.

What are Apple AirTags and Android Trackers?

Apple AirTags are small Bluetooth-enabled tracking devices that work seamlessly with Apple products such as iPhones, iPads, AirPods, and Macs via the "Find My" app. For Android users, Tile and Samsung SmartTags offer similar features. These devices allow you to track items like luggage, bags, or even your car, making them ideal for travellers.

Why Use AirTags or SmartTags for Luggage?

• Real-Time Tracking: Whether you use Apple AirTags or Android SmartTags, both provide real-time updates on your belongings, ensuring you can locate your luggage quickly.
• Built-In Convenience: Apple AirTags integrate seamlessly into Apple’s ecosystem, so if you own an iPhone, iPad, or AirPods, you already have the necessary tools to track items. No extra setup is required.
• Asset Security: You can place these tags in your suitcase or even your car, allowing you to track them if you’re separated from your belongings, such as at airports or shopping centres.

How Do These Tags Work?

These devices send small data packets via Bluetooth to nearby smartphones that have internet access. When a tag is near a compatible device, its location is shared through the network, and you can view its location on your app. Interestingly, your phone could also be helping others locate their items without you realising it, as part of the broader Apple or Android networks. This feature, although secure, is typically hidden in the small print.

Limitations of Tracking Tags

While Apple AirTags and Android alternatives like Tile and Samsung SmartTag offer great convenience, they do come with certain limitations, especially when compared to GPS trackers that use their own SIM card.

• Reliance on Nearby Devices: AirTags and similar Bluetooth trackers don’t have their own internet connection. They rely on nearby devices (such as iPhones or Android phones with internet access) to transmit their location. This means that if no internet-connected device is nearby, the tracker won’t update its location. In contrast, GPS trackers with SIM cards have their own direct connection to mobile networks, allowing them to work even in areas without nearby devices.
• Limited Location Updates: With AirTags and similar Bluetooth-based trackers, you only receive the last known location when a compatible device passes by the tag. You don’t get a continuous log of where the item has been, as you would with a GPS tracker/logger, which can provide a full history of movements. This difference can be crucial if you need to track an item’s entire journey, such as when monitoring stolen goods or assets over time.
• No Coverage in Remote or Underground Areas: Since Bluetooth trackers rely on nearby devices, they often don’t work in remote areas with no mobile coverage or underground locations like carparks, tunnels, or subways. GPS trackers with SIM cards, on the other hand, can still provide updates in most areas with mobile coverage, and they typically work better in environments where few people are carrying mobile devices.
• No Real-Time Tracking: AirTags and similar devices can provide updates only when they come into contact with a nearby device, so the tracking isn’t truly real-time unless the tag is constantly near someone’s phone. In contrast, GPS trackers with SIMs are designed for continuous real-time updates, giving you more precise information about where your item is at any given moment, regardless of other devices.
• Power and Size: Bluetooth trackers like AirTags are small and lightweight, making them ideal for items like luggage, bags, and even small personal items. However, GPS trackers are often larger and have their own battery, which needs recharging or replacement more frequently, especially if it’s providing constant real-time tracking.

While AirTags and Android equivalents are perfect for casual, everyday tracking (like luggage, keys, or backpacks), GPS trackers with SIMs offer superior functionality if you need real-time, uninterrupted tracking or a detailed history of where an item has been. The right tool depends on your tracking needs: AirTags are great for peace of mind in urban areas, while GPS trackers are ideal for more serious, wide-range tracking scenarios.

Extra Protection for Families

These trackers are particularly helpful for families:

• Children’s Belongings: Attach a tag to your child’s backpack or toy, so you can track it in crowded areas like airports or amusement parks.
• Assisting Seniors: If a family member with memory loss or wandering tendencies consents, placing a tag on their belongings can help you locate them quickly and provide added safety.

Anti-Stalking Features and Modifications

Both Apple and Android trackers have anti-stalking protections. For example, Apple AirTags notify users if an unknown tag is travelling with them, and both Apple and Android systems allow you to make suspicious tags beep, helping you locate them.

However, some users modify their tags to disable the beep or place them in soundproof containers to reduce noise, making it harder for the tag to be found. This can be both good and bad:

• For Stolen Items: If your luggage or car is stolen, you may not want the thief to easily find and remove the tag, so disabling the beep can be helpful to slow them down.
• For Personal Safety: If someone is tracking you without your permission, a hidden tag is harder to find, which poses a safety risk. It’s important to regularly check your device for unknown tags and use apps like Tracker Detect (for Android) to scan for unrecognised tags nearby.

Precision Tracking vs. Aftermarket Devices

When using an iPhone with official Apple AirTags, the location accuracy is highly precise, allowing you to pinpoint items to within a few centimetres. However, cheaper aftermarket devices that claim to be AirTag-compatible may not offer the same level of precision, making it harder to find lost items accurately, but may be useful to use in you car/boat/caravan etc.

Secure Your Assets on the Go

Tags are ideal for securing valuable items like suitcases, bags, or even your car. By placing a tracker in your belongings, you can ensure that even when separated, you can always locate them. This added layer of security is especially valuable during travel or in crowded public places.

Final Thoughts

Apple AirTags and Android alternatives like Tile and Samsung SmartTag provide an easy, reliable way to track your belongings. The integration of AirTags with Apple devices like iPhones, iPads, and AirPods makes it a seamless experience for Apple users. While these devices come with significant benefits, such as real-time tracking and anti-stalking features, it’s important to be aware of the potential privacy concerns and limitations—especially in areas with no internet coverage or when using modified tags.

Are you considering using tracking tags for your luggage or other valuable items? How do you plan to protect your belongings on your next trip?

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