It looks like Android 13 might include an important safety feature

Date:
Wed, 30 Mar 2022 10:28:09 +0000

Description:
Google's next Android 13 update could bring Bluetooth tracker detect to its smartphones.

FULL STORY ======================================================================

Google might be working on its own Bluetooth tracker detection software for Android smartphones, according to the latest reports.

Bluetooth trackers like the Tile Mate and Apple AirTag have become increasingly popular over the last couple of years, by using Bluetooth connections, and an army of phones hooked up to the Tile or Apples Find My network , these tags can help users find lost objects at home and out in the wider world.

Unfortunately, plenty of bad actors use these same devices to stalk unsuspecting individuals.

Tile and Apple have introduced various safety measures to reduce the risk their devices pose, but there are still issues with the current system. The main problem is that, for Android phone users, the free Tile and Apple Tracer Detect apps dont offer automatic detection - you have to manually initiate searches on each individual app.

Now it looks like Google is taking matters into its own hands according to a 9To5Google report. The site details lines of code it found in a Google APK that was recently uploaded to the Play Store that references tag detection
for devices named Tile tag and ATag (likely referencing AirTags).

The code is still fairly bare-bones right now, but it strongly suggests that Google is working on in-built tracker detection for Android.

Its not clear if this detection can be set to run automatically - though this should absolutely be an option - but this feature would at least give Android device users a pre-installed one-stop-shop to check if they're being stalked by unknown trackers.

We don't know when this feature will be available, but it could drop fairly soon. Theres a chance that this tracker detection will be available later
this year when Android 13 launches, and it might even launch as part of the next Android 13 beta . Well have to wait and see what Google announces.

Even though there are early signs that the feature is being developed, theres no guarantee that it will ever see the light of day. Check out the best Android apps you can download right now



======================================================================
Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/news/it-looks-like-android-13-might-include-an-impor tant-safety-feature/


--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A47 (Linux/64)
* Origin: tqwNet Technology News (1337:1/100)