Tile has largely dodged the criticism Apple has received for the privacy concerns its AirTag trackers pose, quietly staying in the background as the tech giant scrambles to release features that could mitigate the risk of stalking. Tile has taken similar steps to stop fingers from following it.
Tile is pushing out a “Scan and Secure” feature to its app this week, which will allow users to scan and view any unwanted trackers hiding nearby. This feature will be available as an addition to both the iOS and Android Tile apps. It is very similar to the Apple app.
The app should, to some extent, prevent its small tracking devices from being used for illegal activity, like stalking or stealing. However, the scan feature doesn’t come built-in to your phone so users will need to download the app and initiate a scan. That applies even to non-Tile customers who might want nothing to do with these trackers. You don’t even need to have a Tile account.
“If you ever feel concerned that someone could be tracking you, we now offer a feature that allows you to determine if that tracking could be through a Tile product. Scan and Secure is now available to all Tile users, even if they don’t have an account. This will allow you to search for Tile-enabled devices or unknown Tiles that might be travelling with you. Tile
wrote in a blog post.
To use the feature, you will need Bluetooth, Location Services, and Precise Location set to “On.” You can then initiate the scan but will have to walk or drive away from your original location before the feature starts to work. The scan will produce a report that includes any suspicious tracking devices.
Privacy concerns around these helpful lost-item finders hit a fever pitch after the release of Apple’s AirTags. The company was criticized for failing to consider appropriate safeguards, and within months, reports sprouted of AirTags being used for stalking. Recent reports have also shown how AirTags are being used to steal cars.
The AirTags’ built-in notification system meant to alert users when a mysterious tracker is following them around failed in our own simulated stalking scenario. We didn’t receive any notification, despite the fact that the AirTags’ owner was away from the device and tracking our poor victim’s location (they knew about this, FWIW) the entire time.
As part of its effort to prevent AirTags from aiding in illegal activity, Apple now says it will partner with law enforcement to provide paired account details should police issue a subpoena or “valid request.” It now augments a beeping sound with an alert sent to your device, an addition made after AirTags were being sold on Etsy with their speakers removed.
We’re glad Tile is taking Apple’s lead, but users still need to be proactive about downloading these apps. For that reason, tracking devices like Tile and AirTags remain a serious privacy concern.