Latest news with #FindHub
Android Authority
26-06-2025
- Android Authority
How Google's Find Hub could use Android 16's Secure Lock to protect your sensitive data
Mishaal Rahman / Android Authority TL;DR Android 16 introduces a 'Secure Lock' feature that enhances the security of remotely locking a lost device. Secure Lock restricts access to notifications, Quick Settings, widgets, and the digital assistant and requires both the screen lock credential and biometrics to unlock the phone. While not yet active, we expect this feature to be integrated into Find Hub, automatically boosting the protection of its 'secure device' option. If you lose your Android phone and are worried about leaking your sensitive data, you can use Google's Find Hub service to remotely lock it down or factory reset it. A factory reset is the most secure choice since it wipes all your data, but it comes with a major downside: you can no longer track the phone. Remotely locking it, on the other hand, allows you to keep tracking it but doesn't completely secure the device. That security gap may soon be a thing of the past, however, thanks to a new Secure Lock feature introduced in the latest Android 16 update. You're reading an Authority Insights story. Discover Authority Insights for more exclusive reports, app teardowns, leaks, and in-depth tech coverage you won't find anywhere else. When you mark your device as lost or use the 'secure device' option in Find Hub, the service locks it, requiring your PIN, pattern, or password to get in. It also signs you out of your Google Account, removes payment cards from Google Wallet, and can display a custom message on the lock screen. Locating a device on Google's Find Hub website Remotely securing a device via Google's Find Hub website However, this standard lock leaves several features accessible to anyone who picks up your phone. They can still pull down the Quick Settings panel, view lock screen widgets, access the digital assistant, and see the notification panel (though the notification content itself is hidden). While these don't expose your most sensitive data, they create potential security gaps that are better off sealed. That's what Android 16's new Secure Lock feature is designed to do. It not only restricts access to the aforementioned features but also enhances the lock screen by forcing multi-factor authentication for device entry. This means a thief would need to know your screen lock (your PIN, pattern, and password) and spoof your biometric data to gain access; one without the other won't be enough. This makes Secure Lock significantly more robust than Identity Check, an existing feature that requires only biometric authentication when your device is away from a trusted location. When I first revealed that Google was working on the Secure Lock feature earlier this year, I wasn't sure if the feature would actually launch in Android 16. With the release of Android 16's source code earlier this month, though, I can finally confirm the feature is part of the update and share more details about how it works. For starters, here's how Google describes Android 16's new Secure Lock feature: 'Secure Lock is a new feature that enables users to remotely lock down their mobile device via authorized clients into an enhanced security state, which restricts access to sensitive data (app notifications, widgets, quick settings, assistant, etc) and requires both credential and biometric authentication for device entry.' Secure Lock can be enabled by privileged system apps with the new MANAGE_SECURE_LOCK_DEVICE permission. These apps can then use the new AuthenticationPolicyManager API to activate the mode. Google describes this API as a 'centralized interface for managing authentication related policies on the device,' adding that it includes 'device locking capabilities' designed to protect Android users in ''at risk' environments.' When enabling or disabling Secure Lock on a device, a custom message can be shown on the lock screen. If no message is provided, the system will show a default message such as 'Device is securely locked remotely' if Secure Lock has been enabled or 'Secure lock mode has been disabled' if it's been disabled. Mishaal Rahman / Android Authority Google's Find Hub can display a custom message on top of the lock screen after remotely securing it. While it's not in use yet, we have some evidence suggesting that Google will soon implement this feature. Recent versions of the Google Play Services app already include the MANAGE_SECURE_LOCK_DEVICE permission. Since Google's Find Hub service is part of Play Services, it's the clear candidate to use Secure Lock, even if we don't know the exact custom message it will display on the lock screen. Google could also incorporate Secure Lock into Android's enterprise controls, though this is less likely. The AuthenticationPolicyManager API's description states it is 'not related to enterprise control surfaces and does not offer additional administrative controls,' suggesting it won't be a tool for securing lost corporate devices. That's why we think the Secure Lock feature will be used to silently boost the efficacy of Find Hub's 'secure device' button. We won't know for sure until Google actually deploys it, though. Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at Email our staff at news@ . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.
Android Authority
25-06-2025
- Android Authority
Google's Find Hub network is unreliable, but this simple change could fix it
Andy Walker / Android Authority TL;DR Google could improve its Find Hub network by convincing users during device setup to select a more reliable, but less private, tracking option. This new setup screen rebrands the existing network options to better explain that the default option may be less reliable, while the alternative can find items anywhere. By getting more people to choose the more effective setting, Google aims to make its network a more dependable alternative to Apple's and Samsung's. If you're worried about losing an important possession, you can attach a Bluetooth tracker to it and monitor its location using an item tracking network. For Android users, the most convenient option is Google's Find Hub network, as it's built into nearly every Android device. However, the network has a major drawback: it's not as reliable as its competitors. Fortunately, Google is working on a subtle change to the setup process that could make Find Hub far more dependable. You're reading an Authority Insights story. Discover Authority Insights for more exclusive reports, app teardowns, leaks, and in-depth tech coverage you won't find anywhere else. Find Hub, formerly Find My Device, helps you pinpoint the location of your devices and contacts. It locates items in one of two ways: either the device reports its own location, or another nearby device in the network reports it. While smartphones and tablets can share their own location when they have an Internet connection, they must rely on the crowd-sourced network when they're offline. The same is true for Bluetooth trackers. In theory, as long as other network participants pass by your lost item, its location will be updated. Andy Walker / Android Authority Because billions of devices are on the network, location updates should be frequent. Unfortunately, our testing shows that Google's Find Hub is much less reliable than Apple or even Samsung's item tracking networks. All three crowdsource location data in very similar ways, but Google's network has one key difference. By default, Find Hub won't report a lost item's location if only a single device passes by it. The network requires multiple nearby devices to confirm a location before reporting it. While this measure helps protect against misuse by stalkers, it also makes the network less reliable for tracking items outside of high-traffic areas like airports or shopping centers. To fix this, Google could align Find Hub's default setting with Apple and Samsung's networks, but the company is hesitant to force this choice on users. Instead, Google is asking people to change the setting themselves within the Find Hub app. However, most users either don't bother changing defaults or are unaware the option exists, so the vast majority likely remain on the less effective setting. The current page for selecting Find Hub's network option Instead of hoping users find and enable Find Hub's more reliable setting, Google is now taking a more proactive approach. According to its 'Google System Services Release Notes' page, the company is rolling out an update to Google Play Services (version 25.24) that prompts users to configure Find Hub during device setup. While this new setup screen isn't widely available yet, we managed to surface it manually. The page, titled 'Find your device and help others too,' explains that 'the Find Hub network crowdsources locations from billions of Android devices… to help find lost items like phones and tags.' It presents two network options with toggles: Findable everywhere : This is the more reliable option, renamed from the existing 'with network in all areas.' : This is the more reliable option, renamed from the existing 'with network in all areas.' Findable in busy places only: This is the new name for the default setting, previously called 'with network in high-traffic areas only.' Functionally, nothing has changed besides the names and descriptions. However, the new names and descriptions could convince more people to select the more reliable option. While the old wording merely implied that the default setting was less effective in remote areas, the new phrasing makes that limitation explicit. A 'learn more' button at the bottom of the page opens a dialog to help users make a more informed choice. This dialog clarifies that the 'findable in busy places only' option 'provides additional privacy protection in remote areas.' Ultimately, presenting this choice during setup should boost adoption of Find Hub's more reliable setting, making it a more viable alternative to Samsung's SmartThings Find and Apple's Find My networks. Alongside this new setup prompt, Google is also preparing to auto-enroll more users in Find Hub. Find Hub currently activates when you add a Google Account, but evidence we uncovered in March suggests this will expand to when a user enables location access. While these newly enrolled users will default to the less reliable setting, their participation will still help grow the network, and they can always switch to the more reliable option on their own. Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at Email our staff at news@ . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.
Android Authority
24-06-2025
- Android Authority
PSA: Google's Find Hub network lacks pairing lock, making tracker theft surprisingly easy
Rita El Khoury / Android Authority TL;DR Unlike AirTags, Bluetooth tags compatible with Google's Find Hub don't have a pairing lock. The trackers can easily be factory reset and paired with a new Android device. Reddit users spotted that the issue affects multiple brands, with Chipolo confirming the flaw. Google recently rebranded its Find My Device network as Find Hub, but an issue users are just discovering suggests that it still lacks a key security feature. Redditors have realized that Find Hub-compatible Bluetooth tags can be factory reset and instantly claimed by a different Google account, with no verification or pairing lock in place. On the Find My Device subreddit, user Fearless-Archer536 detailed their findings after testing two Bluetooth trackers. They found that either tag could be reset and paired to a new Google account, even if the original owner had marked the item as lost. 'In the context of Google's ecosystem, the tags simply get erased upon factory reset and they can be added again to any compatible Android device. There is no information left on the tag that could link the tag to the previous owner.' — Chipolo Follow-up tests by other users in the thread confirmed that the issue isn't limited to those tags. One reported that Moto Tags can also be reset and reassigned without prompts or restrictions, and no notification is sent to the original user. The issue lies in how Google's Find Hub ecosystem handles factory resets. According to a response by Chipolo — manufacturer of tags for both Apple and Google's tracking networks — resetting a tag on the Find Hub network wipes all ownership data from the device. This allows anyone to claim it as their own, even if the original owner hasn't removed it from their account. That sharply contrasts with how Apple's Find My network handles the same situation. Chipolo confirmed that, even if someone resets an AirTag or other compatible tracker, the tag remains locked to the original owner's Apple account until it's explicitly removed. While the tag won't report its location after a reset, it can't be added to someone else's Find My app, making it a far less attractive target for theft. There was some confusion over whether Moto Tags were an exception. A Motorola employee claimed on Reddit that Moto Tags include an 'anti-theft pairing lock' tied to a Motorola account, preventing strangers from reusing a tag after a reset. However, Moto Tag users disputed this, noting that the Motorola app doesn't appear to support login or account binding. 'The Moto Tag app doesn't even have the ability to use an account or any way to log in,' one user replied. Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at Email our staff at news@ . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.
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Business Standard
13-06-2025
- Business Standard
Moto Tag gets UWB support, first on Google's Find Hub: What this means
Motorola's object tracker, Moto Tag, is receiving a firmware update that adds support for Ultra-Wideband (UWB) tracking—making it the first tracker on Google's Find Hub network (formerly Find My Device) to support the feature. With UWB enabled, Moto Tag now offers precise, directional tracking with turn-by-turn assistance and proximity detection, significantly improving its location accuracy. Motorola had equipped the Moto Tag with UWB hardware at launch last year, but the feature remained dormant as Google's Find Hub network did not support the technology. Google only recently added UWB support to its platform, alongside improvements like refined Bluetooth scanning patterns for faster and more reliable tracking. According to The Verge, Moto Tag users can enable UWB by updating the Moto Tag app on Android and applying the latest 2.0.93 firmware. However, UWB support is only available on select Android smartphones, including newer flagship devices from Google Pixel and Samsung Galaxy series. Moto Tag: Details Price: Rs 2,299 Colours: Jade Green, Starlight Blue Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.4, UWB (with compatible devices) Device Compatibility: Android 9 (Pie) and above Moto Tag is designed for Google's Find Hub network, enabling users to track a wide range of items—from keys and wallets to bikes and luggage. It works even when offline by leveraging the vast Android device network nearby. When paired with a smartphone that supports UWB, the device unlocks Precision Finding—offering directional cues to locate the tracker with greater accuracy. The Moto Tag also includes a multi-function button that can help ring your phone or act as a remote shutter for taking photos. What is UWB? Ultra-Wideband (UWB) is a short-range wireless communication technology that delivers highly accurate location tracking. It operates at low power and high bandwidth over distances of up to 50 metres. By measuring Time of Flight (ToF) and Time Difference of Arrival (TDoA), UWB can calculate precise positions—far beyond what Bluetooth or Wi-Fi alone can achieve. UWB has already been adopted by Apple's AirTags (2021) and Samsung's SmartTags (2020). With Moto Tag's latest update, Motorola becomes the first brand to bring UWB to Google's tracking ecosystem.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Yahoo
Google killed the classic 'Find your phone' tools, but don't worry, they're still alive
Google's Find My Device has evolved into the more capable Find Hub, but remnants of ancient phone-finding tools still exist. The still-live "Find your phone" Google Account settings page now recommends you "try calling your phone," which probably won't help anyone. All phone-finding tools have moved to the Find Hub, making the Find your phone page's continued existence redundant. Change can be great, especially when it's something like Google's Find My Device evolving into the increasingly capable Find Hub. But even when a service makes positive progress, you'll occasionally find head-scratching oversights or half-measures, and those can be confusing or downright misleading. That's the case with Google's latest step in migrating its former phone-finding controls to the new, comprehensive Find Hub. Google axed the long-standing method of finding a lost smartphone and ported the functionality over to the new app and web page, but the remnants of the old way remain. Somewhat amusingly, while the "Find your phone" settings page still exists, it now offers a single piece of advice: "try calling" it (Source: 9to5Google). You won't find the Find My Device app anymore, either — but it's only been rebranded to Find Hub. Starting in August 2021, a simple Google Search for "I lost my phone" led to a popup result directly from Google. As long as you performed the search while logged into your account, a single click would start your phone's ringer, helping you or whoever was nearby to find it easily. That convenient popup vanished, but the first result from the aforementioned search query was — and is — still a link to the Google Account settings page entitled "Find your phone," and containing a locator map and button to activate the ringer. Clicking that link, or selecting "Find a lost device" within account settings, lands you on the Find your Phone page. You'll be looking at a list of devices linked to your account. Previously, clicking on a device immediately gave you the option to ring or locate it. Lower on the page, you could lock it, call it, sign out of Google on it, erase it, or contact your carrier about it. In other words, you had real, actionable options. The left is from six years ago, and the right from today. Screenshots courtesy of Abner Li / 9to5Google Not anymore. The page and links to it still exist, but the only prominent action recommended is a real doozy. The options to lock, locate, or erase a phone have disappeared, replaced by a simplistic solution: "Try calling your phone." If that isn't funny enough, the page advises users who can't remember their number to "ask a friend" or "use Contacts to look it up." It then helpfully points out that the device "will need to have Hangouts or a similar service" installed — and Google Hangouts has been dead for going on three years. Of course, lost Android device tracking is far from extinct. To find a lost phone, tablet, or other device with Android's gadget-finding technology built in, visit the ever-improving Google Find Hub. Other than directing you to your carrier's contact information, it does everything the original Find your phone page could do. Thankfully, this is not a classic case of Google pulling the plug on a promising service. But it is slightly ironic. You ask one of the world's leaders in data harvesting, digital mapping, Bluetooth tracking, and software implementing where you last set down your high-tech mobile device. It replies, "I don't know, have somebody try calling it. Maybe your friend." When that doesn't work, the confusingly still-alive page does let you sign out of the device with one click. But a one-sentence explainer and a link to the Find Hub would have saved at least a few Android users some confusion.
