The arrival of Bluetooth trackers makes it super simple for users to locate lost devices such as bags and keys. However, they are controversial as they can be misused.
Both Apple and Google made headlines for rolling out tracker alerts in the past to inform when an unknown Bluetooth tracker is present. Now, it’s part of Android’s latest update to also enable users to locate the tracking devices.
The feature is just one of the many launched by Google’s Find My Device that gives users first an alert. Once that’s done, you can block the device from updating locations within 24 hours. Secondly, there’s a Find Nearby feature that enables users to precisely find where the tracker is in case it’s not visible or audible.
After clicking on unknown tracker alerts, users can see maps of where the tracker was seen moving from their designated location. After that, you can play around with sounds to see where it’s located. In cases where you don’t find them, the Find Nearby feature links your device to the tracker through Bluetooth and displays shapes that fill in when you get close to it.
The tool is quite similar to Google’s offering when locating trackers and devices users own. But for that, any Find My Device feature is not needed. Any device featuring Android 6.0 can benefit by dealing with unknown Bluetooth trackers.
This seems like a good step on Google’s part to remove the security concerns linked to Bluetooth tracker abuse. We know that Apple has something similar in the form of Precision Finding that’s related to AirTags.
Both tech giants rolled out shared standards for seeing unfamiliar Bluetooth trackers, no matter if you’re using Android or iOS in 2024. This is right after the rollout of Find My Device network last April. So as you can see, both tech giants rolled out their own ways to deal with this unwanted tracking dilemma. This includes people trying to stalk their whereabouts or rob them of prized possessions.
Read next: Facebook Tests New Option For Users To Add Notes To Story About ‘No Edits’
Both Apple and Google made headlines for rolling out tracker alerts in the past to inform when an unknown Bluetooth tracker is present. Now, it’s part of Android’s latest update to also enable users to locate the tracking devices.
The feature is just one of the many launched by Google’s Find My Device that gives users first an alert. Once that’s done, you can block the device from updating locations within 24 hours. Secondly, there’s a Find Nearby feature that enables users to precisely find where the tracker is in case it’s not visible or audible.
After clicking on unknown tracker alerts, users can see maps of where the tracker was seen moving from their designated location. After that, you can play around with sounds to see where it’s located. In cases where you don’t find them, the Find Nearby feature links your device to the tracker through Bluetooth and displays shapes that fill in when you get close to it.
The tool is quite similar to Google’s offering when locating trackers and devices users own. But for that, any Find My Device feature is not needed. Any device featuring Android 6.0 can benefit by dealing with unknown Bluetooth trackers.
This seems like a good step on Google’s part to remove the security concerns linked to Bluetooth tracker abuse. We know that Apple has something similar in the form of Precision Finding that’s related to AirTags.
Both tech giants rolled out shared standards for seeing unfamiliar Bluetooth trackers, no matter if you’re using Android or iOS in 2024. This is right after the rollout of Find My Device network last April. So as you can see, both tech giants rolled out their own ways to deal with this unwanted tracking dilemma. This includes people trying to stalk their whereabouts or rob them of prized possessions.
Read next: Facebook Tests New Option For Users To Add Notes To Story About ‘No Edits’
