Berkeley Varitronics Systems (BVS), a small cybersecurity company, may be able to solve the Apple AirTag stalking problem with its BlueSleuth-Lite detector.
It works by discovering “all major BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) trackers” including the aforementioned air tag , Galaxy Smart Tag , and future devices that support standards like earbuds. If multiple gadgets are detected nearby, BlueSleuth screen (opens in new tab) List them “according to signal strength” and give the tracker the highest priority. The screen displays the misplaced item’s name, company icon, and the date and time it was last detected. We don’t know exactly where the tracker is, but we should use the signal strength as a barometer to find any 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 charge to last a day, supporting both wired and wireless charging. According to BVS, it’s easy to operate. The company says it comes with a “two-way rocker/push button” that lets you navigate the BlueSleuth’s menus to find your tracker and configure settings.BVS says its detector’s maximum range is It says it’s 75 feet, but you can adjust the sensitivity of the BlueSleuth-Lite so it only detects trackers that are nearby. can do.
stalking problem
Originally, Bluetooth trackers like the Apple AirTag were designed to help people find lost or stolen items. However, in the last few years Numerous reports of these devices It’s been abused as a “cheap and effective” way to stalk people.apple is Introduce anti-stalking feature It provides iPhone owners a way to detect uninvited AirTags, but it’s not perfect. BVS claims it can take hours or days for the alert notification to reach your phone “after the tracker has already been hidden.” In addition, Android devices cannot detect his AirTags without a third-party app, so if someone drops his AirTags, those users are out of luck.and there is the possibility Uninvited AirTag speaker removed Don’t let the alarm ring.
There are many ways bad actors can circumvent current barriers. Using BlueSleuth-Lite seems to have solved these deficiencies of BLE trackers. No third party apps required. It vibrates to alert people and, assuming it works as promised, can quickly identify hidden tags.
availability
The BlueSleuth-Lite launch date appears to be set for June 2023. Prior to this, BVS ran a Kickstarter campaign to raise funds to create the detector. We’ve already reached our goal, but there’s still a little room left for additional helpers. At a net price of $499, he buys one BlueSleuth-Lite, and the higher the tier, the more units he offers. Unfortunately, BVS says the price will likely jump another 25% to cover the additional development. Do the math and the BlueSleuth-Lite could cost over $600 at launch.
So it’s definitely an expensive piece of equipment. If you’re looking for a more affordable way to protect your privacy, check out TechRadar’s list. The best privacy tools for 2023 .
