Elevation Lab removes AirTag silencer after tracking down issues

Earlier this year, Elevation Lab announced the launch of a “Silencer” for AirTag intended to pierce the device’s speaker to mute the sound.

Elevation Lab said it created the Silencer to prevent thieves from detecting an ‌AirTag‌ on valuable products like bikes, but the company didn’t think easy removal of the speakers would be problematic.

The ‌AirTag‌ emits a sound when it is far from its owner to alert users that a tracker might be following them. AirTags have been criticized for making stalking easier, and Apple has improved security features several times since the trackers launched in 2021. The latest ‌AirTag‌ 2 even has a stronger speaker and more adhesive to make the speaker harder to remove.

We didn’t cover the launch of the Elevation Lab Silencer because we didn’t want to publicize an accessory that removes the anti-harassment feature of the ‌AirTag‌, and Elevation Lab had to hear several complaints. Six colorsGlenn Fleishman, for example, said the device was “terrible.” When asking Elevation Lab about this, Casey Hopkins, CEO of the company, explained that users can already deactivate AirTags themselves and that people will still receive notifications on their smartphone if an unknown ‌AirTag‌ is traveling with them.

Elevation Lab reversed course and sent out emails today to inform customers that the Silencer is no longer available for purchase.

We recently launched an AirTag deactivation tool. We’ve always made the products we wanted for ourselves, and this was no different: we wanted it for the AirTags on our bikes. (Some of us have bikes more valuable than our cars.)

In retrospect, this also has the side effect of helping a bad person track someone who wouldn’t receive phone notifications.

We have removed the product and will use our patent to prevent anyone from making one in the future.

The silencer had a pin located where the ‌AirTag‌ speaker is. The device’s description instructed users to remove the battery from the ‌AirTag‌, apply the silencer, and hit it with a hammer so that the pin pierces the plastic cover of the ‌AirTag‌ and the speaker underneath.

‌AirTag‌ alerts make trackers less useful for locating deliberately stolen items, but the audible sound is an essential safeguard that exists to protect people from stalkers. Elevation Lab plans to use its patent to ensure that other companies do not design and market a similar accessory.