Google rolls out automatic AirTag alerts for Android in bid to prevent stalking

Back in May, Google and Apple collectively introduced that they have been teaming up to prevent undesirable monitoring via AirTags and related units. Today, Google is asserting that the rollout of unknown tracker alerts is now starting on units operating Android 6.0 and later. Right now, this solely works with AirTags, however Google says it is working with tag producers to broaden this safety to different monitoring tags over time.

Here’s the way it works. If an unknown Bluetooth tracker is separated from its proprietor and decided to be touring with you, you’ll be notified in your Android system. If you faucet the notification you possibly can study extra concerning the tracker and examine a map of the place it was seen touring with you. There’s additionally a “play sound” possibility that may make the tracker make a noise in an effort to find it with out the proprietor of the tracker realizing.

Additionally, while you deliver the tracker close to the again of your telephone, it would share its serial quantity or extra details about its proprietor, just like the final 4 digits of their telephone quantity. You may also learn the way to disable the tracker fully, so it should cease the proprietor from receiving any future location updates from it.

This is all meant to prevent stalking by utilizing AirTags and AirTag-like trackers, and it appears to be an excellent step in the suitable path. Google additionally constructed a guide scan function that allows you to examine your environment for trackers with out having to wait for an alert.

To manually search, you want to go to Settings > Safety & emergency > Unknown tracker alerts and faucet the Scan now button in your Android system. The scan will take about 10 seconds.

Finally, Google introduced that it is holding the rollout of its Find My Device community till Apple implements related protections in iOS. The firm says the joint undesirable tracker alert specification ought to be finalized by the tip of this 12 months, after which the Find My Device community might be made reside.

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