Small cybersecurity firm Berkeley Varitronics Systems (BVS) may soon address Apple AirTag tracking with its BlueSleuth-Lite detector.
It works by detecting “all major BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) trackers”, including the above air label, Galaxy Smart Tag, and future devices that support the standard, such as earbuds. If multiple gadgets are detected nearby, BlueSleuth’s screen (opens in a new tab) will list them “by signal strength” and give the tracker the highest priority. Users will see on the screen the name of the misplaced item, the company logo, and the last time it was detected. It won’t tell you where to find the tracker, but you should use signal strength as a barometer to locate suspicious devices.
The BlueSleuth-Lite itself is “small enough to fit” in the palm of your hand. Inside is a lithium-ion battery with enough power to last you all day, supporting both wired and wireless charging. According to BVS, it is simple to operate. The company says it comes with a “two-way joystick/button” that can be used to navigate BlueSleuth’s menus to find trackers or configure their settings. BVS says its detectors have a maximum range of 75 feet, however, you can adjust the BlueSleuth-Lite’s sensitivity to only sniff out trackers that come close to you. Due to its small size, you can attach it to a keychain and take the detector with you.
track issue
Originally, Bluetooth trackers like the Apple AirTag were designed to help people find lost or stolen items.However, in the past two years or so, there have been Numerous reports of these devices Misused as a “cheap, effective” form of tracking.Apple has Introducing anti-tracking functionality There’s a way for iPhone owners to detect unsolicited AirTags on them, but it’s not perfect. BVS claims the warning notification can take hours or even days to reach your phone “after the tracker has been hidden”. Additionally, Android devices cannot detect AirTags without a third-party app, so if someone drops an AirTag on it, those users are out of luck.and possibly The Unsolicited AirTag Has Its Speakers Removed So the alarm clock won’t go off.
Bad actors can work around current barriers in a number of ways. With BlueSleuth-Lite, these deficiencies in the BLE tracker seem to be resolved. You don’t need a third-party app, it vibrates to alert people, and if it works as promised, it can instantly identify hidden tags.
availability
A release date for BlueSleuth-Lite appears to be set for June 2023. Prior to this, BVS launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise funds to create the detector. However, the goal has been achieved and there is room for more supporters. Subscribe for $499 and get one BlueSleuth-Lite, with more on higher tiers. Unfortunately, BVS says the price tag could go up an additional 25% to cover additional development costs. Doing the math, the BlueSleuth-Lite could cost over $600 at launch.
So, definitely an expensive piece of equipment.If you’re looking for a more affordable way to protect your privacy, be sure to check out TechRadar’s list Best Privacy Tools of 2023.
