How To Find Unknown Trackers Using Android

Alphabet Inc.'s GOOG GOOGL Google added a new security feature called ‘Unknown Tracker alerts' to Android phones, allowing people to detect Apple Inc. AAPL AirTags that might have been nefariously placed on them or their belongings.

What Happened: Following its announcement in July 2023, Google’s ‘Unknown Tracker alerts’ feature is now widely available on Android phones. This feature helps people detect Apple AirTags or other compatible trackers that may be traveling with them without their knowledge, especially if the tracker is out of its owner’s Bluetooth range.

See Also: Worried Your Pixel Phone Is Hacked? Here's How To Check Using Google's New Tool

Simply put, this feature notifies you whenever any unknown trackers are detected. This will help you prevent being nefariously tracked by someone. Apple even condemned the malicious use of AirTags to track people without their consent. This is also a crime in many regions, and Apple said it is working with law enforcement agencies to resolve the misuse of AirTags.

Now, Google has taken the first step in helping people detect unknown trackers. Here's how it can be done.

How To Detect Unknown Trackers

For now, Google's Unknown Tracker alerts feature works only with Apple AirTags – that is, it only detects unknown AirTags, but that could change in the future.

Follow these steps to detect unknown trackers using your Android phone:

• Open the Settings app and tap on "Safety & emergency".
• Now, tap on "Unknown Tracker alerts" at the bottom.
• The feature is turned on by default, and if it detects any unknown trackers around you, the details will be reflected on this screen.
• You can also manually scan for unknown trackers if you suspect a tracker is following you.

When an unknown tracker is detected, your Android phone sends a "Tracker traveling with you" notification. When you tap on it, the phone pulls up a map with the travel history.

You can also play sound to locate it—doing so does not alert the tracker’s owner, so you can rest assured about your safety.

Image Credits – Shutterstock

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