BERLIN: With the help of its iPhones and iPads, as well as the Bluetooth and ultra-wideband radio standards, Apple has set up a worldwide network for locating its devices.

As well as being able to help you locate your iPhone or iPad, this network means you can attach one of Apple’s AirTags to items you might misplace or lose such as keys and then use the Find My app to locate them.

However, there is a potential downside to these handy little tags - they can be planted on someone or their belongings unawares and can then be used to track them.

To prevent this, users receive a warning on their iPhone display if they are carrying around a strange AirTag for a long time.

To protect people with Android devices from possible surveillance, AirTags emit an alarm sound after 24 hours at the latest if they are permanently in the vicinity of someone who isn’t carrying an iPhone. However, the speaker on an AirTag can be disabled.

Probably for that reason, Apple has now released a scanner app for AirTags in the Google Play Store. It’s called Tracker Detect and it looks for item trackers that are separated from their owner and that are compatible with Apple’s Find My network.

These item trackers include AirTags and compatible devices from other companies. If Tracker Detect finds a strange, unknown AirTag nearby, the app can command the AirTag to make a sound so that you can find it. You can then disable the tag by removing the battery.

Tracker Detect can also read the serial number and any stored information on the owner from an AirTag using NFC. If it is just a lost or missing AirTag, this information can be used to return it to its owner.

However, the app does not provide automatic warnings like an iPhone does when you are carrying around a strange AirTag for some time.

It also doesn’t offer the functionality of the Find My network - you need an iPhone or iPad for that.

 - dpa