A few months ago, Apple and Google collaborated on an industry standard to combat location tracking abuse. At Google I/O 2023, the system officially launched ‘Unknown Tracker Alerts’ for Android. Now, nearly three months later, the feature is finally available for Android users, with the goal of providing better privacy and security.
According to Google’s official blog post, the ‘Unknown Tracker Alerts’ feature offers three basic options to let Android users know and protect themselves from potential threats to their privacy:
Alerts for Foreign Trackers
If your Android smartphone detects a “foreign” tracker nearby and traveling with you, it will send you an alert. You can expand this information to see exactly where the tracker contacted you. Additionally, you have the option to play a sound on the tracker, so that you can discreetly locate it, without notifying the actual owner of the tracker.
Tip for Enabling Trackers
If you can find the tracker, Google will give you instructions on how to physically enable it. By placing the tracker close to the back of your smartphone, you can access important information, such as the tracker’s serial number, the owner’s details, the last four digits of their phone number and this information can be important if necessary if you are legal . Also, you can see how the tracker can’t send all the information back to the original owner.
Manual Scanning
With the ‘Unknown Tracker Alerts’ feature, you have the ability to manually scan your environment to ensure there is no effort on your device to scan for items. This gives you more control and peace of mind when it comes to your privacy and security. Just go to the Safety & Emergency menu in your smartphone settings and select the “Scan Now” option under the Unknown Tracker Alerts section to start a manual scan.
Google, and Apple, have actively prioritized safety and security. The Find My Device Network is set to be updated, allowing users to keep track of their devices. Unfortunately, the release of the ‘Unknown Tracker Alerts’ feature will be put on hold until Apple integrates the network with its iOS security. The merger process is expected to be finalized later this year. Therefore, users will have to wait for a while to fully benefit from this feature.
As these privacy issues arise, they raise questions about individual privacy and security. Users are encouraged to share their thoughts and opinions about this new feature in the comment section below. Would it really increase the level of security? Is it a step in the right direction to protect privacy? Let me know what you think!
0 Comments