Security News > 2024 > May > Apple and Google add alerts for unknown Bluetooth trackers to iOS, Android

On Monday, Apple and Google jointly announced a new privacy feature that warns Android and iOS users when an unknown Bluetooth tracking device travels with them.

Named Detecting Unwanted Location Trackers, the new feature started rolling out yesterday on Apple devices as part of iOS 17.5 and to Google users on Android 6.0+ devices.

On iPhones, users will now receive alerts stating "[Item] Found Moving With You" if an unknown Bluetooth tracking device is seen moving with them over time, regardless of the platform it is paired with.

"Apple and Google have worked together to create an industry specification - Detecting Unwanted Location Trackers - for Bluetooth tracking devices that makes it possible to alert users across both iOS and Android if such a device is unknowingly being used to track them," reads joint announcements from Google and Apple.

Clicking on the alerts will display the tracker's identifier and allow the user to play a noise on the tracker to help locate it.

While Bluetooth tracking devices have legitimate uses, they have also been abused by abusers and stalkers to track a person's location without their knowledge.

News URL

https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/apple-and-google-add-alerts-for-unknown-bluetooth-trackers-to-ios-android/