Android Phones Can Now Detect Rogue AirTags, No App Download Required

Google is now rolling out an AirTag-detection system for Android.Initially introduced at Google I/O in May, these “Unknown tracker alerts” are arriving on telephones operating Android 6.0 and up “this month,” in keeping with Erik Kay, Google VP of Engineering. So Android units offered over the previous seven years or so ought to obtain the software program.The alert system lastly offers Android customers a handy solution to see if a rogue AirTag has been positioned of their belongings or automotive to trace their location. In December 2021, Apple launched an Android app referred to as Tracker Detect to deal with the issue, however it requires customers to proactively obtain it from the Google Play Store after which manually click on the scanning perform. In distinction, Google’s built-in alert system is designed to “routinely” detect rogue AirTags round you and show an alert in your telephone, which could be clicked for extra info. “You can faucet the notification to study extra in regards to the tracker and look at a map of the place the tracker was seen touring with you,” the corporate says. “You may also faucet ‘Play sound’ and the tracker will make a noise that can assist you find it with out the proprietor of the tracker figuring out.”In addition, the alert will counsel the person take down the serial quantity on the Bluetooth tracker, and even contains steps on how customers can shut the machine off. Google says the system is at the moment designed to work with Apple AirTags, however that it’s working to broaden the perform to extra Bluetooth trackers. In May, the corporate partnered with Apple to launch draft requirements so that every one Bluetooth trackers could be detected by each Android units and that iPhones. At the time, the brand new specification had obtained help from Samsung, Tile, Chipolo, Eufy Security, and Pebblebee. Google provides the system additionally contains the flexibility to manually scan your surrounding space for trackers. “To do that, go to Settings > Safety & emergency >Unknown tracker alerts and faucet the ‘Scan Now’ button,” the corporate says. “Your machine will take about 10 seconds to finish a handbook scan, and then you definately’ll see a listing of trackers which are at the moment decided to be close to you and separated from their proprietor’s machine.” Google created a help web page with info on the alert system, which says: “Unknown tracker alerts are turned on by default. You can flip unknown tracker alerts on or off everytime you need.” But to activate the function, you’ll must activate the Android location setting too.

https://au.pcmag.com/security/101005/android-phones-can-now-detect-rogue-airtags-no-app-download-required