Androids new Find Nearby feature helps detect unwanted Bluetooth tracking devices

Bluetooth trackers are handy for finding lost items, but they can also be used for nefarious purposes. Fortunately, companies are doing their best to help people protect themselves from unwanted tracking by letting them know when an unwanted device is interfering with their location information. Google just announced a new “Find Nearby” Android feature that detects Bluetooth devices that aren’t registered to track your location and helps you find them.

• Android users are vulnerable to being tracked by

Google's 'Find Nearby' Feature Locates Hidden Location Tracking Devices

As reported on Google's The Keyword blog, the company is helping people detect hidden Bluetooth trackers. Sometimes, bad guys will secretly attach a tracking device to an item and give it to the person they want to track—inside a stuffed animal, for example. When the target takes the item home, the bad guys can learn where they live, making Bluetooth trackers a powerful tool for stalkers.

Luckily, Android devices now have a tool called “Find Nearby.” This feature works in conjunction with Android’s unknown tracking alert system to help you locate it:

If you get an unknown tracking alert, you can now use the “Find Nearby” feature to locate the tag. Your Android device will guide you to the tag’s location, helping you find it if it’s hidden.

This feature is also rolling out alongside a new “Temporarily Pause Location” feature. When your phone detects a potentially unwanted tracker, you can disable location tracking for 24 hours. This gives you enough time to find the tracker and remove it before resuming normal activities.

If you want to learn more about protecting your privacy from digital trackers, check out What to Do When You Get a Phone Tracking Alert. It’s important to learn these steps in advance, because the worst thing you can do when you’re being tracked is take the tracking device home.