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Apple and Google plan to introduce a feature to detect “unwanted” beacons

05.10.2023

Among the priorities for modern software developers, security is especially worth mentioning. Absolutely everyone, from ordinary programmers to international corporations Google and Apple, are making efforts to protect the confidentiality of personal data. If you are an Apple or Android Developer, then the definitely important news will be the start of collaboration between these companies on an additional mechanism to combat “unwanted” search beacons. They plan to integrate it into Bluetooth. Let’s figure out what stage the innovation is at, and what exactly iOS Android users can expect.

What do we know about the Bluetooth update?

It is no secret that the Apple brand pays great attention to security issues, constantly developing and implementing new tools and rules. Developers could experience this from their own experience at the stage of creating an Apple Developer account, setting up a profile and paying for a subscription. To start real work on a project, sometimes you have to wait 3-4 months or even more until specialists manually check the specified data. When creating an individual account, the wait is less, but in both cases there is a high chance of failure due to some minor mistake. The only way to eliminate problems with registering as an Apple Developer and accessing tools is to purchase a ready-made account.
It is not surprising that it was the American company that was the first to take care of tracking “unwanted” search beacons. This task has been successfully performed since 2022 by a special function that identifies AirTag, and in the very near future, owners of devices with the Android operating system will be able to evaluate its effectiveness. As part of a joint initiative, Google and Apple began creating a new version of Bluetooth. It will use a similar principle:

if there is a dubious AirTag in the immediate vicinity, the owner of the device receives a corresponding notification;
if necessary, the owner of the gadget can find out the location of the “alien” tracker, as well as find out the duration of tracking.

Since the launch of the feature on Apple devices, the number of complaints about illegal surveillance that were received by the support team has decreased significantly. It is logical to assume that the same will happen after the update for the Android OS is launched. The company expects to finally complete the development process by the end of 2023. In the future, the innovation will also help developers of programs for devices from different manufacturers, including holders of Huawei Appgallery Developer accounts.

How are things going at the moment?

The Bluetooth update has been available to users since the end of July, but it cannot be called finalized yet. With its help, it is possible to detect only AirTag beacons, but in the future trackers from other manufacturers will be added. Good news for users will be the presence of a “Play sound” button for a faster search, while the system does not notify the owner of the tracking device. This allows you not only to detect the tracking device, but also to recognize the serial number and information about the owner (to do this you will need to bring the gadget to the back of the phone).
New security requirements definitely need to be taken into account by developers. Owners of an Apple Developer Account can keep abreast of the latest news in the world of innovative technologies, having gained access to interaction with other creators of Apple software. Purchasing a ready-made account will allow you to become one of them. Buyers can choose a corporate or individual profile and immediately start working on new projects. Nova.Shop provides paid accounts at reasonable prices – contact us!