Apple has delivered on its promise and published an app to assist Android users in detecting AirTags that may have been snuck into their possessions.
The Tracker Detect app was discreetly released on the Google Play Store on Saturday. It’s made to detect rogue AirTags and other Find My-compatible tracking devices that have been separated from their owners.
The software is Apple’s attempt to prevent the misuse of AirTags. Criminals and stalkers have employed AirTags as a low-cost surveillance tool, as reported in recent headlines.
Customers using an iPhone will receive an alert if an AirTag that has been separated from its owner is close. Consumers with Android phones, on the other hand, may be in the dark. When the rogue AirTag is no longer with the original owner, it won’t start beeping for another eight to 24 hours, allowing a bad actor plenty of time to track the gadget.
Apple responded by announcing in June that it would provide a separate anti-stalking feature for Android users. The result is the Tracker Detect app, which is available for download for free on Android.
“You can scan to try to find it if you fear someone is using AirTag or another device to track your whereabouts,” the business noted in the app’s description. The scanning is done over Bluetooth on an Android phone, with a range of roughly 30 feet.
The software does, however, have one major flaw: scanning does not take place 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Instead, the user must manually activate the scanning feature of the program. The software will then search your surroundings for any rogue AirTags, which will take a few minutes.
You can use the app to command the invasive AirTag to emit a sound, indicating its location, if a problem is detected. The sound will only be activated if the “app finds an AirTag or compatible item tracker near you for at least 10 minutes,” according to Apple’s support document.
The program will also show you how to remove the battery from the AirTag, thus shutting it down. You may also use the app to search up the serial number of your AirTag. A notification will appear if the AirTag has been tagged as missing, providing information on how to contact the owner. However, if you believe your safety is in jeopardy, Apple’s Tracker Detect app will recommend that you contact law police.
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