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Comment by samueldr | Hacker News Reader

While it won't provide "at rest" detection, Apple has released an app for Android devices.

- https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.apple.trac...

Apple's Tracker Detect app for Android does not automatically scan for AirTags. Users must open the app and manually initiate each scan, then wait at least 10 minutes after detecting an AirTag before causing it to emit a noise.

A much better alternative is the free and open source AirGuard app developed by the Technical University of Darmstadt. It automatically scans for AirTags, Tiles, and other Bluetooth tracking devices in the background. When AirGuard detects an AirTag, the user can immediately force the AirTag to emit a sound without having to wait.

- AirGuard: https://github.com/seemoo-lab/AirGuard

> wait at least 10 minutes after detecting an AirTag before causing it to emit a noise

Wait, anyone in my building can make an AirTag go off? Can't wait to annoy a few people at 3am /s

Are you aware of any equivalent to AirGuard that can run on a linux host with a Bluetooth adapter rather than a phone?

The closest thing I can find is BlueHydra, which was last updated in August 2019:

- BlueHydra: https://github.com/pwnieexpress/blue_hydra

- Ars Technica article: https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2016/09/hands...

But why do I have to install another application to defend myself against a foreign corporation's wrong doing?

Airtags should be illegal, at least in Europe.

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