Tracker Detection & Privacy Protection

The Hidden Tracker Problem

A $29 AirTag weighs 11 grams and runs for a year on a single battery. It can be dropped into a bag, stuck under a car with a magnetic case, or hidden inside a gift. GPS trackers from companies like LandAirSea and SpyTec are even more capable — cellular connectivity, real-time location updates, and months of battery life.

The problem isn't just stalking. Tracking devices are used for corporate espionage, vehicle theft targeting, custody disputes, and controlling behavior. And most people never know they're being tracked — because the trackers are designed to be invisible.

Types of Tracking Devices

How Tracker Detection Works

Tracker detection requires more than just seeing nearby Bluetooth devices. Every phone already sees hundreds of BLE devices in a busy area. The challenge is figuring out which ones are threats.

What basic scanner apps do

Most "tracker detector" apps simply list every Bluetooth device in range. Some filter by known AirTag or Tile signatures. This catches the obvious cases, but misses trackers that rotate their Bluetooth address (which all modern trackers do every 15 minutes), and produces constant false alarms from legitimate devices.

What SentryRF does differently

SentryRF uses 11 AI models running entirely on your phone to classify every device it sees. Instead of just listing signals, it tracks behavior over time and correlates multiple data points:

• MAC rotation tracking — follows devices across address changes using fingerprinting, stable identifiers, and Apple public key correlation
• Temporal pattern analysis — detects devices that consistently appear at your locations at your times
• Movement correlation — identifies devices following your travel path across multiple locations
• Coordinated surveillance detection — catches relay-style tracking where multiple devices take turns following you
• Crowd persistence modeling — flags devices that stay while everyone else's devices turn over
• Environment learning — builds a baseline of normal devices at your home, work, and commute so it knows when something new appears

Finding GPS Trackers (No Bluetooth)

Cellular GPS trackers like LandAirSea Overland, SpyTec GL300, and Bouncie GPS don't use Bluetooth at all — they communicate via cellular networks. No Bluetooth scanner will ever find them. But they're still electronic devices with circuits, and those circuits produce electromagnetic emissions.

SentryRF's Physical Sweep mode uses your phone's magnetometer as an EMF detector. Hold your phone 2–5 cm from surfaces and move slowly. A sudden spike of 30+ µT above baseline reveals hidden powered electronics — even ones with no wireless transmission. This is the same principle used by professional TSCM teams, adapted for your phone's sensors.

For vehicles: use Parking Lot Mode to run a 3-minute sweep. Walk slowly around the exterior, paying extra attention to wheel wells, under bumpers, and the undercarriage where magnetic GPS trackers are commonly hidden.

Protecting Against Spyware Trackers

Software-based spyware (like Pegasus, mSpy, or FlexiSpy) requires a different defense — it runs on YOUR phone rather than being a separate device. SentryRF detects hardware trackers and surveillance devices, not phone spyware. For spyware protection:

• Keep your phone's OS updated to the latest version
• Use a strong screen lock (biometric + PIN)
• Never leave your phone unattended with someone who might install spyware
• Check for unfamiliar apps with excessive permissions (camera, microphone, location)
• If you suspect spyware, factory reset your phone and restore only from a known-clean backup

What To Do If You Find a Tracker

1. Don't destroy it — it may be evidence in a criminal investigation
2. Document it — SentryRF can generate a PDF evidence report with timestamps, signal data, and a cryptographic hash for authenticity
3. Contact law enforcement — unauthorized tracking is illegal in most jurisdictions
4. Disable, don't destroy — for AirTags, remove the battery (twist the back). For Tile trackers, the battery can't be removed but you can put it in a signal-blocking bag (Faraday pouch)
5. If you feel unsafe, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233