forcebwithu Posted August 21 Share Posted August 21 I received a heads up email from Google that Android devices will be joining the Find My Device network and the feature will be turned on in 3 days. To opt out you can use this link. Some may find this feature useful, but for myself I prefer location privacy and have opted out from letting the world know where I am at all times. How it works Devices in the network use Bluetooth to scan for nearby items. If other devices detect your items, they’ll securely send the locations where the items were detected to Find My Device. Your Android devices will do the same to help others find their offline items when detected nearby. Your devices’ locations will be encrypted using the PIN, pattern, or password for your Android devices. They can only be seen by you and those you share your devices with in Find My Device. They will not be visible to Google or used for other purposes. https://support.google.com/android/?p=find_offline_devices 1 1 1 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazle Posted August 21 Share Posted August 21 Does that mean that if you switch off Bluetooth, you won't be detectable? That seems unlikely, so what other connecting method does it use? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Butch Posted August 21 Share Posted August 21 This is all a bit sinister IMO. I now have a google pixel 7, and even with the screen locked it's possible to turn off the internet, wifi and Bluetooth by dragging the screen down and tapping the icons. I looked for this online and the answers are basically that phone thieves grab the phone and stick it in a faraday pouch anyway so you've zero chance of finding it. Like you @forcebwithu I'll be opting out and thanks for the heads up. I wonder if the default setting is to "share".? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
forcebwithu Posted August 22 Author Share Posted August 22 6 hours ago, Butch said: This is all a bit sinister IMO. I now have a google pixel 7, and even with the screen locked it's possible to turn off the internet, wifi and Bluetooth by dragging the screen down and tapping the icons. I looked for this online and the answers are basically that phone thieves grab the phone and stick it in a faraday pouch anyway so you've zero chance of finding it. Like you @forcebwithu I'll be opting out and thanks for the heads up. I wonder if the default setting is to "share".? Based on the email I received, this is a "feature" that gets automatically turned on unless you opt out. "You’ll get a notification on your Android devices when this feature is turned on in 3 days. Until then, you can opt out of the network through Find My Device on the web. Your choice will apply to all Android devices linked to..." 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john luke Posted August 24 Share Posted August 24 Assuming as media reports suggest Android users will be joining a joint Apple/android system. There appears to be three parts to he system. 1. Find my phone. 2. Find my devices. 3 Find my items (which will include such items as air tags and similar items. I have used the Apple system for some time and advise that one can only see phones, devices and items which are registered to one’s Apple account. The Apple air tag as part of its operating system will warn anyone who is not the registered keeper of an air tag that an AirTag appears to be ‘with them.’ Air tags send out a blue tooth signal which other Apple users pick up; the signal is processed and sent to a central hub and only the registered user of the tag can find out the location. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazle Posted August 24 Share Posted August 24 On 8/21/2024 at 9:02 PM, Bazle said: Does that mean that if you switch off Bluetooth, you won't be detectable? That seems unlikely, so what other connecting method does it use? Does anyone know the answer to this, please? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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