ALERT APPS - What They Are and Why They're Important
These days, it’s impossible to imagine life without a smartphone. We use them for work, to stay in touch with friends and family, and for entertainment. We’ve installed countless apps for all kinds of purposes, but have you ever thought about your security? It’s hard to believe, but there are now apps for this as well—so-called safety apps.
The following Q&A guide summarizes the most important information on this topic for you:
- How does an alert app work?
An alert app receives official alerts and information messages—typically from government agencies and organizations responsible for public safety (BOS)—and forwards them to users. After installing the app, users can select the areas for which they want to receive alerts (e.g., home, workplace, etc.) or share their location to ensure they always receive alerts relevant to their current location. When an alert is issued, a push notification is sent along with a corresponding notification sound to alert the user. The alert then contains the most important information about the dangerous situation as well as recommendations for action for the affected segment of the population. Once the danger has passed, a follow-up notification is generally sent to all users with an all-clear message.
2. Why is it important to have an alert app on your cell phone?
Alert apps ensure that you are notified of dangerous situations as early as possible so you can protect yourself from them. In other words, they are designed to protect what matters most: your health and safety!
3. What warning apps are available?
 |
|
NINA is the federal government's official alert app. You can find all the important information about it here: What is the NINA alert app?
 | KATWARN |
KATWARN is an official alert app developed by the Fraunhofer FOKUS Institute on behalf of public insurers.
For more information about the app, click here: The Alert System
 | Weather Alerts |
WarnWetter is an app from the German Weather Service that provides up-to-date weather information and warnings about natural hazards.
You can find more detailed information about the features here: Features of the WarnWetter app
 | BIWAPP - Citizen Information and Alert App |
In addition to alerts for dangerous situations, BIWAPP also provides local information on various topics (such as traffic and school closures) that users can select individually. For more information about the app, visit: biwapp.de
4. Which app should I install?
Ultimately, the choice of which alert app to use is entirely up to you and depends on what information you want to receive. The federal government operates a so-called Modular Warning System (MoWaS), through which all warnings for the public are initially issued. The system then triggers all linked warning channels and warning multipliers in the affected area. As a result, the alert is issued simultaneously by every alert app. This primarily applies to NINA, KATWARN, and BIWAPP. Although WarnWetter is also linked to MoWaS, it primarily issues only alerts concerning weather conditions or natural hazards.
5. How can I install the alert app?
All alert apps can be downloaded and installed for free from your phone's app store. You can also find the download links on the websites for the various alert apps linked above.
6. Why isn't the app working even though I've installed it?
This issue is usually related to the settings in the app or the settings on your cell phone. For example, if you have your smartphone set to silent or in “Do Not Disturb” mode, you must explicitly grant the app permission to trigger an alert or play a notification sound even in those modes. You can usually find instructions for this on the websites of the various alert apps, specifically tailored to the Android or iOS operating system.