Google's New Anti-Stalking Measure Will Alert Android Users About Unknown AirTags

[Det V]

According to google's page it will only scan for trackers separated from the owner. You can set your home as a no alert zone for airtags, so we need to know if Google considers that as not separated from the owner (I hope so, because it doesn't take a genius to come to that conclusion)

3 ways unknown tracker alerts on Android help keep you safe

Unknown tracker alerts help keep you and your loved ones safe on Android with automatic alerts and manual scan.

blog.google

Find unknown trackers - Android Help

You can identify, find, and remove trackers that have been placed near you or in your belongings without your knowledge or consent with the help of unknown tracker alerts. Important: This feature is

support.google.com

Agree. Lets hope so. Yes. Home is set on my tags. We do need more information and hopefully that will come but for now we can only go off the brief and sometimes contradicting wording. They describe the scans as automatic and manual but in fact it reads like they are two totally different scans.

The automatic scan seems fair and reasonable. "With unknown tracker alerts, you will get notified on your compatible Android device if an unknown Bluetooth tracker is separated from its owner and is determined to be traveling with you" Same as iPhone dose now. No problem.

Then the manual scan reads "Complete a manual scan, and then you’ll see a list of trackers that are currently determined to be near you and separated from their owner’s device. It clearly leaves out the important bit "determined to be traveling with you"

So a criminal could scan a car park and all the keys, wallets and other tagged valuables in cars would show up making his decision as to which car to break into easy. These tags were not following him and the owners information contained in them is non of his business. This is an unnecessary feature and presents a liability to the tag owner doing the rite thing and also potentially dangerous.

Also on a side note I use code names like B1 H2 etc on my tags. Never default keys or wallet or bike/car model etc. No need to make it easier for criminals to determine where or what the tag is transmitting from.

 

[JamesHolden]

It's always benign, until it's not.

That's the entire idea of privacy, protection from non-benign uses of previously benign technology.

Ok...but I fail to see what point you're making. Are you against Google alerting users to unknown trackers, or do you support this move?

No one thought they need to be in control of their money. Nobody had an issue with the bank actually owning their money, and giving them the money when asked.

Until the day they disagreed with what the government was doing, joined a truck convoy, and got their bank accounts frozen and suddenly had no money.

That was when they learned about self-custody. It's not that Bitcoin in its current state is a good alternative to fiat money, but it exemplifies how something that nobody would even think twice about can suddenly turn - in the blink of an eye.

Oh boy... As soon as someone brings up banking, fiat money, etc., I know exactly where the conversation is headed. That ship sailed a long, long time again. Fiat money isn't going away. Our entire global economic system would crash if we tried to return to the gold standard or whatever "solution" the conspiracy theorists are spinning these days. When it comes to the financial system, like it or not, it will only become more controlled as society evolves. It's very likely that paper money won't even exist in the not-too-distant future.

The harsh truth is, most people can't handle freedom responsibly. More and more people equate entitlement with freedom. There are 8 billion (and counting) people on this planet. Expect more control, not less, in the coming decades. Nothing will change that trajectory.

 

[_Spinn_]

Seems like a good change if there aren’t too many false positives.

 

[sideshowuniqueuser]

So are AirTags completely useless in tracking your stolen items? Seems like thieves immediately know the bike or camera bag they stole has a tracker in it, make it beep, and then toss it, right?

I think it's only use case is for helping you find stuff you misplace often. "Honey, where are my keys?"

 

[spazzcat]

So are AirTags completely useless in tracking your stolen items? Seems like thieves immediately know the bike or camera bag they stole has a tracker in it, make it beep, and then toss it, right?

That isn't their purpose.