Jennifer Gaston and Maddison’s 17-year-old daughter became frantic when the teen received a warning that the monitor’s owner was following them as they returned to their car in the Magic Kingdom monorail earlier this week.
The notice indicated that Maddison had been under surveillance for four hours – as of 7:09 p.m. until 11:33 p.m. – with the location where he visited the huge theme park – up to the parking lot.
“We were terrified, we were confused, hurt and scared,” Gaston told Fox 35 Orlando. “She literally saw her following us from the tram to our vehicle,” she added, referring to her daughter.
“He showed the first destination where he was located with her, then he basically draws a line and makes the connections of the points where he was found,” he added.
The teenager and her mother searched their car but could not find the device. They locked the car door and left before calling the police, with Madison continuing to monitor the location of the device on her iPhone.
“As he freshened it up, it showed that the AirTag was still in our parking lot, so somehow when we frantically shook our clothes and threw everything out of our bags, it fell out,” Gaston said.
The $ 30 wireless devices were designed to help track frequently misplaced items, such as keys or wallets, but are increasingly being used by suspicious pursuers to track people, mostly women.
The device is designed to prevent “unauthorized surveillance” by alerting a nearby iPhone when the AirTag has been separated from its user. For example, if someone was going to place an AirTag in a car but did not get in the car, then the driver of the vehicle should be notified that there is an AirTag nearby or moving with it.
Jennifer Gaston said she discovered an AirTag that she and her 17-year-old daughter, Maddison (right) were watching as they were returning to their car at Walt Disney World One Road in Orlando, Florida. The couple had received a call on Maddison’s phone
The AirTag, which did not belong to the family, said it was first spotted with the couple at 7:09 p.m. before receiving a notification four hours later, at approximately 11:33 p.m. Image: Gaston’s steps in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World
The family made the creepy discovery while on a day trip to America’s busiest theme park
How Apple AirTag was designed as a solution to find lost keys, wallets and pets
The Apple AirTags, which went on sale by the brand in April, can be attached to items such as keys, backpacks and bags.
Circular devices are equipped with Bluetooth connectivity for pairing with an iPhone or iPad or a third-party device.
The AirTag location is sent to iCloud and can then be displayed on a map, according to Apple’s website. Using the Find Me app, the system provides step-by-step instructions for locating the missing label and product.
The device is designed to alert a nearby iPhone when it is separated from its user. For example, if someone was going to place an AirTag in a car but did not get in the car, then the driver of the vehicle will be notified that there is an AirTag nearby.
After a while, the AirTag will start playing a sound to notify people close to you.
“I’ve seen videos of other people warning people about them and what they really were. “That way I knew what it was and I did not ignore the warning,” Madison added.
The AirTag should start playing a sound to notify people close to it. However, it has been shown that alarm and sound can take hours or even days to send and can even be turned off. The devices are also very small and can be easily hidden.
The AirTag location is sent to iCloud where it appears on a map, according to Apple’s website. Using the Find Me app, the system provides its owner with step-by-step instructions to locate the missing label and product.
Maddison and her mother agreed that people should report any unusual digital activity they observe on their phones and learn more about the new tracking technology over time.
“Be sure to do your research and find out what they are. “You have the right settings on your phone, so if you have an air tag that ends up on you, make sure your phone detects it,” Garson said.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office in Florida said that because the family did not find the AirTag, of course, the incident has not been identified as a crime. However, investigators reported the incident and were informed of the incident.
Apple has released an Android-friendly app called tracker detect to allow Android users to be notified of an AirTag moving with them.
Due to growing concerns about the misuse of the device, some privacy groups have called for gadgets to be removed from store shelves.
“Some people who are in a bad mood use it to potentially chase people, to follow people, to point out vehicles, luxury vehicles, who may want to come back and steal,” said David Benson, a security consultant in the area. “Even if it is not in epidemic proportions, it happens a lot where it concerns it.”
If a person finds himself being monitored after finding an AirTag, then the best result is to go to a public place and inform the local authorities instead of going home or to a hotel, Benson added.
People are asking Apple to discontinue AirTag surveillance devices as women increasingly report that the devices were being monitored in their homes
In January, a young mother in Texas said she found an AirTag stuck in her bag while traveling from Texas to Maine.
“I think they would have hurt me for sure. “I do not think you are doing this for no reason,” he told the Inside Edition at the time. “It took me almost 14 hours to let him know it was happening,” he said.
Hundreds of other women have posted videos on TikTok to share their stories of how they found mysterious AirTags linked to their items and tracking their location since the tracking device was released by Apple in April.
Each AirTag has a serial number of course written on it and connected via Bluetooth. If the law enforcement authorities issue a court decision, Apple could reveal the identity of the iPhone in which the AirTag is registered.
Law enforcement officers advise women to go to the police station as soon as they receive an unjustified AirTag alert or find the device. If possible, they advise you to avoid going home, however most women seem to learn about surveillance devices after going home.
Most women have found AirTags hidden inside or in their cars, but sometimes they are even found in personal items such as handbags and coats. Small detectors cost $ 30 and can be easily hidden in very inconspicuous places
