Security News > 2022 > March > Google rolling out Air Raid Alerts to Android users in Ukraine

Google is rolling out an air raid alert system to all Android phones in Ukraine to help them get back to safety from incoming Russian airstrikes.

As Walker further explained, the airstrike warning system rolling out to Ukrainians' Android phones "Is supplemental to the country's existing air raid alert systems" and uses air raid alert info provided by the Ukrainian government.

Google started rolling out this Air Raid Alerts system in Ukraine today, at the request and with the help of the country's government, via the Google Play Services, the Android service used to update apps from Google Play.

"You may get a notification when the air raid alert is issued, and another notification when the air raid alert is canceled," strings found in the APK for Google Play Services by XDA-Developers.

According to Google Engineering VP for Android Dave Burke, the system leverages Google's low latency alert mechanism built for earthquake alerts.

"Air raid alerts and sirens in Ukraine are a tragic daily reality, and we're doing all we can to help people get these crucial alerts as many ways as possible," Walker added.

News URL

https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/google/google-rolling-out-air-raid-alerts-to-android-users-in-ukraine/