From ExtremeTech: Apple didn't invent Bluetooth trackers, but the release of the AirTag in 2021 was still a seminal moment for people who can't keep track of their keys. The accuracy of AirTags also made them a favorite tool of stalkers and car thieves, and Apple's iPhone-focused mitigations left Android users in the lurch. Now, Google has created a tracker detection feature built into Android, and it's probably already on your phone.
AirTags work on the same principle as similar trackers from companies like Tile and Chipolo. The device acts like a Bluetooth Low Energy beacon, pinging nearby phones with its unique ID. Apple's phones identify the tag and make its location available to the Find My network. Since there are iPhones in about half the pockets out there, AirTags have an enormous detection net.
It seemed like Apple did not see AirTag criminality coming, even though it claims to have special insight into what people want from their personal electronics. In the months after release, it scrambled to add various safety features to limit malicious use cases. For example, the iPhone will alert you if the same tracker is near your phone for an extended period. Apple released an Android app to detect AirTags, but it only works when you manually scan. Google's new solution is included in the safety settings of your phone, and it doesn't even require an OS update.
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