Android ramps up anti-stalking measures with improved tracking alerts
Bottom line: Mobile stalking is becoming an increasingly troublesome issue with phones and tracking tags. The situation makes some people feel unsafe. So Google is working to add new options to Android’s native anti-tracking functionality to provide peace of mind.
Android is getting some new changes to improve protection against unwanted tracking devices. Google introduced its unknown tracker alert feature a year ago to prevent stalking and other potentially dangerous behaviors. It is now adding new countering tracking features that deal with malicious tags after they are discovered.
The new options are technology improvements to bring tracking alerts to the user’s attention faster and more often. The “Find My Device” feature that checks for compatible devices now includes Temporarily Pause Location and Find Nearby options. The first provides a way to turn off location updates sent from the user’s phone to the tracking device for up to 24 hours. Mountain View said the pause feature is an extra layer of privacy security. Users can use this as a first action when they suspect they have picked up a rogue tracker.
Meanwhile, the Find Nearby feature tries to find where the tracking device is hidden. The improvement to the feature can “guide” users in locating tags hidden beyond the line of sight.
“Your safety is our priority, so we’re continuously improving unknown tracker alerts to help you stay ahead of unwanted tracking,” Google stated.
It introduced the Find Unknown Trackers feature over a year ago to identify, find, and remove Bluetooth trackers unknowingly placed near users or in their belongings.
Android 6 and later now send alerts to the phone when it detects an unregistered tracker, noting that the owner of that tracker can see the user’s location. The Find Nearby feature gives users the added ability to force unregistered trackers to make a sound so they can more quickly find it.
Mobile device tracking has become a concern for users, manufacturers, and lawmakers. Apple made quite a stir with its AirTag devices, with a class action lawsuit now claiming that the technology facilitated multiple murders. To their credit, Apple and Google agreed to adopt a common industry standard to prevent Bluetooth tracking abuse or misuse.
