Your Android phone can now detect unwanted AirTags – here’s how to set it up
Google’s new security update for Android
to detect unwanted Bluetooth tiles is starting to reach smartphones and we’ll show you how to activate it.
To quickly refresh the situation, bad actors have been reported using Bluetooth trackers such as Apple Air Tags, as a cheap way to stalk people. The method is that someone puts a tag on a mark and then tracks the device on their smartphone while the other person is none the wiser. After the news broke, That has been announced by Apple and Google they worked together to address this serious security issue. This patch is the latest piece of protection to come out of this collaboration.
How to activate unknown tracker alerts
Activating the detection tool is quite easy. Start by opening your phone’s Settings app, then scroll down. If your device is active Android 12 or newer, tap “Safety and Emergency”. 9to5Google states in their report that smartphones running Android 11 or older should select “Personal Security” instead. Scroll down again where you should see a new entry titled “Unknown Tracker Warnings”.
Tap the entry and you will be taken to the Unknown tracker alerts menu. The Allow Alerts switch is enabled by default. Going forward, your Android phone will periodically scan its environment for unknown Bluetooth tiles placed on or near you. If it finds anything, it will notify you. There’s also an indicator that tells you when it last detected a mysterious tracker. Alerts are automatically deleted after 48 hours.
At the bottom is a Scan Now button. Pressing it will prompt your phone to manually check the area around you. Manual scans take ten seconds. Please note that results are not saved.
The Unknown Tracker Alerts page has a number of links pointing to a Android help page informing people what will happen if they encounter an unwanted Bluetooth tile. According to the post, the phone will display a map telling the user where the tracker was first detected and the path you both took. In addition, if you tap the Play Sound button on the screen, it will make a sound, making it easier for you to locate the offending gadget
Google will even provide advice on what to do next, such as calling the police if you feel unsafe, plus instructions on how to disable the tracker.
Availability
Currently, the update can only search for Apple AirTags. It is not effective against tiles from other brands, although third-party companies have expressed support for this technology. One day this technology could be extended to something like the Samsung Galaxy tagbut nothing has been confirmed yet.
9to5Google claims they are only seeing this patch on Pixel and Samsung mobile devices. However, we used one OnePlus Nord N20 5G to check out the tool, so chances are the update is much more widespread than originally thought.
If you haven’t already, make sure you install the latest Android patch to get this security feature.