Apple AirTag Hacked and Reprogrammed May 10, 2021 06:39 GMT
· Comment
AirTag Hacked and Reprogrammed
A security researcher discovered that Apple s AirTag can be hacked, and thus its software modified. Using a microcontroller, he unraveled elements that can be reprogrammed to alter basic functions.
Apple is known for using high standards of protection in its devices, so the latest AirTags have inevitably become a priority for security researchers. Released a week ago, the devices appear to have some critical vulnerabilities.
German security researcher Stack Smashing stated on Twitter that he was able to break into the microcontroller of the AirTag. The tweet thread, which was first published by The 8-Bit on Saturday, contains some information about the researcher s investigation of the unit.
AirTag Successfully Hacked to Show Custom URL in Lost Mode
Monday May 10, 2021 1:52 am PDT by Tim Hardwick
The inevitable race to hack Apple s AirTag item tracker has reportedly been won by a German security researcher, who managed to break into the device s microcontroller and successfully modify its firmware.
Yesss!!! After hours of trying (and bricking 2 AirTags) I managed to break into the microcontroller of the AirTag!
/cc @colinoflynn@LennertWopic.twitter.com/zGALc2S2Ph stacksmashing (@ghidraninja) May 8, 2021
Thomas Roth, aka Stack Smashing, shared his achievement in a tweet and explained that re-flashing the device s microcontroller had enabled him to change the URL for Lost Mode, so that it opens his personal website on a nearby iPhone or other NFC-enabled device instead of directly linking to an official Find My web address.
Which iPhones and OSes Work With AirTags?
Compatible iPhones and iPads can use the Find My app to identify the approximate location of a missing, AirTag-equipped item. However, in order to track an AirTag, you must be running iOS 14.5 or above on your iPhone or iPadOS 14.5+ on your tablet. (That update is compatible with iPhone 6s and up, including the first- and second-gen iPhone SE, and most iPads). Update by going to
Settings > General > Software Update.
However, in order to use Precision Finding, which can guide you to your device via on-screen instructions,
you need an iPhone 11 or 12. These models use the camera, ARKit, accelerometer, and gyroscope for a more directionally aware finding experience, according to Apple.
Security expert proves AirTags can be hacked
A hacker replaced the default URL that Apple baked into the AirTags software with his own personal website after hacking the microcontroller.
2 minute read
Jailbreaking Apple devices – especially iPhones – has been a challenge that hacking aficionados and code tinkerers have been playing with for a while now. So, it was only natural that Apple’s entry into the segment of object trackers with the AirTags will gather some enthusiastic response. Interestingly, it only took a few weeks for one such enthusiast to ‘hack’ into the AirTags, albeit to a very small extent.
An IT security researcher, who goes by the username
Apple AirTags tracker hacked by researcher by altering its microcontroller
A German researcher recently demonstrated a video wherein he was able to hack into Apple AirTags by breaking into its microcontroller. The hacker was able to modify the NFC URL that the AirTags redirect to with this hack.
Sarthak Dogra | May 10, 2021 | Updated 15:32 IST
(Image: Twitter/ stacksmashing)
The cybersecurity researcher who hacked into the Apple device customised its NFC URL for demonstration.
The modified AirTag redirected to a different URL than the standard found.apple.com.
In the first of its kind event, Apple AirTags has reportedly been hacked by a German cybersecurity researcher. The researcher used reverse-engineering on the latest Apple device s microcontroller to do this.