Source: securityboulevard.com – Author: Richi Jennings
“Unknown Tracker Detected,” your phone screams. What now?
An Apple AirTag that’s not yours—but traveling with you—could be bad news. Perhaps a thief scoping out your car, or an abuser stalking you. Now, Google will alert Android users if that’s happening—the update’s rolling out now on Android 6 and later (it’s part of Play Services, so you don’t need to wait for your phone manufacturer or carrier).
And what’s Apple doing? Sitting on their hands, waiting for the IETF. In today’s SB Blogwatch, we can’t wait until Tim’s crew get with the program.
But first, your humble blogwatcher interrupts these bloggy bits for an important message:
Everyone deserves healthy relationships—24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, the National Domestic Violence Hotline provides essential tools and support to help survivors of domestic violence so they can live their lives free of abuse.
C’mon Cupertino
What’s the craic? Sarah Perez reports—“Android will now warn about unknown Bluetooth trackers”:
“In partnership with Apple”
A new safety feature, Unknown Tracker Alerts … will allow Android users to be alerted automatically if an unknown Bluetooth device is traveling with them — a sign that could point to the possibility that someone is stalking them using an Apple AirTag or other Bluetooth tracking device. Users will … be guided through tips on what to do next if a tracking device is found.
…
As this new alerts feature now rolls out, Android users will receive a notification on their device if an unknown tracker is separated from its owner and is determined to be with you. Users will then be able to tap on the notification to view a map [and] have the tracker make a noise, allowing you to locate the device. [A] manual scan can be kicked off by visiting Android’s Settings, then “Safety & Emergency”.
…
Google is now working in partnership with Apple to finalize the joint unwanted tracker alert specification by year-end. … Apple, however, will wait to implement the joint spec but will not roll out its own custom implementation in the meantime.
So this is an interim, pragmatic thang? Christianna Silva eschews the Dark Side—“Google and Apple are working together for the benefit of customer safety.”:
“Pretty excellent news”
Google is making it harder for people to plant Apple AirTags on others surreptitiously. … Right now, this feature only works on Apple AirTags, but Google plans to expand its capability.
…
This appears to be pretty excellent news for us. But would have been terrible for Obi-Wan’s trip to Geonosis.
Remind me how AirTags work? ELI5? MattGaiser explains like we’re five:
Automated crowdsourcing of the location of stuff: … Basically most mobile Apple devices are enrolled in a network and anytime that an iPhone is near an AirTag, that network relays the location.
Why do we need this? Xyler explains:
Because ***holes use a genuinely good piece of tech for nefarious reasons. It really is “the reason we can’t have nice things.”
If only it was only good people using them. Matthew Smith wants cake and eating, Old El Paso style:
Unknown tracker alerts are a great idea. It’s just too bad that it probably also backfires in the scenario where someone has their own tag on a piece of property that later gets stolen … and then the phone of the thief would end up alerting them to the proper owner’s own tag on the stolen property.
…
I guess if it comes down to a choice between protecting personal property or personal safety, the latter should always win out. Just too bad you couldn’t somehow have it both ways.
So, what does the NYPD have to say? That’s exactly what toomuchrock would like to know:
And yet [anti theft] has been a major use—e.g., “New York Police Department Encourages Car Owners to Use AirTags to Deter Theft, 500 Free AirTags Available.” So my question [is], are Air Tags no longer good for this very real (yet unintended) use?
What was that about a “partnership with Apple”? Davidw has this succinct precis:
We are talking about cross platform anti-tracking detection standard incorporated in each tag system. Both Apple and Google agreed to a standard method where each other’s tag system will be able to detect whether there is a tag tracking you.
…
That agreed upon standard has not been finalized yet. It’s still in draft form. It’s waiting for the review period to end (end of July).
Name a killer app for tracker tags? AmiMoJo offers up this idea:
They are useful for tracking your luggage. Airline says they don’t know where it is, but your trackers tells you it’s in a big warehouse at some airport.
…
The days of being able to use AirTags to stalk people are thankfully coming to and end. In fact anyone could already scan for AirTags with a free app anyway, it’s just that most criminals didn’t think to.
Meanwhile, The Chief Thief sounds slightly sarcastic:
Thank you Google for making my job easier. Now I can find out if there is a tag on items I steal.
And Finally:
Bonus: Can’t work out what that music is?
You have been reading SB Blogwatch by Richi Jennings. Richi curates the best bloggy bits, finest forums, and weirdest websites … so you don’t have to. Hate mail may be directed to @RiCHi, @richij or [email protected]. Ask your doctor before reading. Your mileage may vary. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Do not stare into laser with remaining eye. E&OE. 30.
Image sauce: Mika Baumeister (via Unsplash; leveled and cropped)
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Original Post URL: https://securityboulevard.com/2023/07/android-airtag-warning-richixbw/
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