this post was submitted on 08 Jun 2026
292 points (99.7% liked)

Technology

85274 readers
4158 users here now

This is a most excellent place for technology news and articles.

Our Rules

  1. Follow the lemmy.world rules.
  2. Only tech related news or articles.
  3. Be excellent to each other!
  4. Mod approved content bots can post up to 10 articles per day.
  5. Threads asking for personal tech support may be deleted.
  6. Politics threads may be removed.
  7. No memes allowed as posts, OK to post as comments.
  8. Only approved bots from the list below, this includes using AI responses and summaries. To ask if your bot can be added please contact a mod.
  9. Check for duplicates before posting, duplicates may be removed
  10. Accounts 7 days and younger will have their posts automatically removed.

Approved Bots

founded 3 years ago
MODERATORS
L3s@lemmy.world
enu@lemmy.world
technopagan@lemmy.world
L4s@lemmy.world
L3s@hackingne.ws
292
This Company Will Add Phone, AirPod, and Smartwatch Trackers to License Plate Readers (www.404media.co)
submitted 1 day ago by empireOfLove2@lemmy.dbzer0.com to c/technology@lemmy.world
53 comments fedilink hide all child comments
top 50 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] Hueristic_Autistic@lemmy.world 3 points 7 hours ago* (last edited 7 hours ago)

Go into developer mode on your android and you can toggle see hidden Bluetooth devices. Anyone can see all the by devices around them same with wifi. Jamming them is a federal offence; Logging them and Scanning them isn't.

Anyone can make a jammer or buy one off of aliexpress at your own expense, I stay away from them even though I've been tempted to build one. Alas, I'd rather read about people who do, than be the one who did.

[–] Formfiller@lemmy.world 3 points 8 hours ago (1 children)

How does this not violate the 4th amendment?

[–] Holytimes@sh.itjust.works 0 points 1 hour ago (1 children)

Publicly accessable information in a public space isn't beholden to it.

Functionally this is no different then someone sitting in a park counting how many people are wearing a blue shirt or Nike shoes.

The problem is people don't realize how much fucking information they are just publicly broadcasting all the fucking time.

It makes you extremely identifable. Really this is more a why the fuck do devices screech into the air so much fucking information.

[–] tb_@lemmy.world 1 points 49 minutes ago

Functionally this is no different then someone sitting in a park counting how many people are wearing a blue shirt or Nike shoes.

That isn't the same level of identifiable as a unique device ID/MAC/whatever though. And even if my devices weren't the issue, I wouldn't feel comfortable having an automated system logging my clothes/gait/face just because I'm out in public. Fully automated surveillance such as this ought to be it's own category.

Also I don't think you are trying to argue that it is right.

[–] SabinStargem@lemmy.today 18 points 1 day ago

Feudalism v3.0, the fences to keep humans as livestock are going up. Can't leave town without corporate's permission.

[–] underThunder@thelemmy.club 18 points 1 day ago

What disturbs me most about all the tracking and profile building that's occurring is the loss of the sense of freedom and autonomy we once had when we knew no one was watching us. Just the idea that someone could know more about us than we're willing to share or even know ourselves creates self-imposed limits on our thoughts and actions when it's essential that we maintain these freedoms.

[–] tal@lemmy.today 14 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

I mean, the real sin here is from the Bluetooth SIG. If you make a radio protocol that broadcasts a unique identifier, it's going to be abused sooner or later.

Google and Apple already know where Bluetooth devices have traveled if an iOS or Android phone using Location Services has come near them at any point.

Other people, like these ALPR guys, can probably harvest a little more data from users of Bluetooth devices, but they aren't going to be the most meaningful harvester, as they have far fewer collection points.

[–] Dryad@lemmy.world 69 points 1 day ago

Tell me your country is falling into private sector authoritarianism without telling me your country is falling into private sector authoritarianism.

[–] Gormadt@slrpnk.net 15 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Looks like I'm gonna have to dig out my CD collection again. I might even still have my binder from way back when.

[–] jasoman@lemmy.world 1 points 2 hours ago

And your paper maps

[–] helpImTrappedOnline@lemmy.world 34 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

Well that's terrible. Gonna need a Bluetooth broadcast device that send all kinds of bogus info to these things and figure out how to spoof a bluetooth mac address. or a hammer or one of them projectile shooters Americans seem to love.

Although, in an alternate timline where technology is used for good, if these things connected to the various find-my networks to help people locate their stuff, that'd be pretty cool.

[–] adespoton@lemmy.ca 17 points 1 day ago (1 children)

For MAC spoofing, just do what Apple does; randomly generate a new MAC every minute or so.

I’ve actually got an app on my phone that makes it announce itself as a whole bunch of devices from TVs to pacemakers to headphones, with a rotating MAC. It’s interesting seeing what tries to connect to it.

[–] WhyJiffie@sh.itjust.works 2 points 9 hours ago

For MAC spoofing, just do what Apple does; randomly generate a new MAC every minute or so.

let's hope your headphones and such are doing that too. but realistically, probably they aren't.

[–] ExLisper@lemmy.curiana.net 8 points 1 day ago (2 children)

Who walks around with their Bluetooth turned on?

[–] sonofearth@lemmy.world 7 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Bruh I have people in my life who say "just keep it on, what's the harm?" when it takes 10s extra to connect to their headphones or cars.

[–] ExLisper@lemmy.curiana.net 6 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Don't listen to them. Turn it off.

[–] sonofearth@lemmy.world 4 points 1 day ago

I have turned it off 99% of the times these days. My bt headphones also has a wired output and I use it most of the times.

[–] XLE@piefed.social 5 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Anybody who uses an Android phone and hasn't dug into their Location Services settings, and hasn't disabled them.

[–] boonhet@sopuli.xyz 3 points 1 day ago

And anyone with iOS on default settings. For WiFi and Bluetooth, the default is that just hitting the toggle in the drawer thingy is "turn off until tomorrow".

[–] Warl0k3@lemmy.world 36 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (2 children)

... why, tho? Is this just an end run around the telcos, who can already get all that information but charge for it and they don't wanna pay?

[–] mangaskahn@lemmy.world 79 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (3 children)

It's because law enforcement needs way less oversight to search a database through a subscription service than to get phone data from the telcos.

[–] Tollana1234567@lemmy.today 1 points 8 hours ago

likely it all goes back to use palantir , im not surprised if this is connect to the palantir AI somehow.

[–] Serinus@lemmy.world 11 points 1 day ago (3 children)

It's a good habit to keep your phone on airplane mode when you can. It also saves on battery.

[–] ranzispa@mander.xyz 5 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Doesn't that defeat the purpose of a mobile phone?

I have a machine through which people can contact me at any time and set it up in such way that they cannot contact me.

[–] Serinus@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

If you have WiFi everything still works.

[–] ranzispa@mander.xyz 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

No, I can not receive calls or sms in airplane mode, even with WiFi enabled.

[–] Serinus@lemmy.world 3 points 1 day ago

Skill issue. (Kidding, mostly.)

[–] unitedwithme@lemmy.today 9 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (7 children)

+1 Phone on airplane mode (eliminates WiFi/BT cellular & GPS tracking)

  1. run physical mobile hotspot device for data (like Calyx hotspot - +2pts of you pick Moxee model to also run rayhunter)

  2. connect to hotspot over WiFi with random MAC addresses (effectively eliminates IMSI tracking)

  3. Enable a solid VPN. (Helps hide location and other usage)

  4. Use chat/text/phone apps over WiFi (eliminates carrier tracking)

  5. +5 for degoogled OS with profiles capability

  6. +3 for Firefox forks like Librewolf or Waterfox with Port Authority and Privacy Badger

EDIT: btw the tech from the article is called SingleTrace...

[–] boonhet@sopuli.xyz 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Pretty sure I can't use VoWiFi without at least a sim card. How are you going to do that without carrier tracking?

Or are you implying I should be a recluse who can't be reached via phone?

[–] unitedwithme@lemmy.today 1 points 1 day ago

I've gone the route of setting up my own XMPP server, using jmp.chat to get a new mobile number, and using Cheogram as my client. Works really well for my alt OS phone. You can use Cheogram, Conversations, Snikket, Jabber, etc. You won't be able to use VoLTE or RCS, but I've invited friends to my server instance and just tell them it's a new chat app better than Signal so it has OMEMO e2ee, but you can also text regular phones numbers, too.

[–] XLE@piefed.social 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Currently, the mobile hotspots from Calyx use the T-Mobile network when available, and fall back to using the Sprint network otherwise.

Doesn't this ultimately just make an IMSI available anyway? Or am I missing something here?

[–] unitedwithme@lemmy.today 2 points 1 day ago

It would only expose the IMSI of the hotspot I believe, since that's a SIM card ID, I believe the IMEI would possibly be exposed, but you could also use a VPN to help. It's been a while, but check this out: https://inv.nadeko.net/RyirQOCUUK8?__goaway_challenge=js-refresh&__goaway_id=47dd286e4b20d07c3f900fbb588ada2e&__goaway_referer=https%3A%2F%2Finv.nadeko.net%2F&t=3

[–] mecen@lemmy.ca 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Does it also disable BT low energy?

[–] unitedwithme@lemmy.today 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

BLE would fall under BT, so I would think so. Airplane mode would disable all radios.

[–] mecen@lemmy.ca 1 points 1 day ago (2 children)
[–] unitedwithme@lemmy.today 1 points 22 hours ago

I guess the real issue after thinking on it, there's no way to disable the wearable's BLE/BT as those are always on. You might have to power it off to truly disable... According to a few different sites, disabling BT would also disable BLE as is the same chipset, but again that's only your phone.

Even though I use GadgetBridge for my wearable, I think I'm ready to get rid of it all together. I don't need to count my steps after all nor heart rate, etc 😅

[–] unitedwithme@lemmy.today 1 points 1 day ago

My old phone is still Android 12, if I enable Airplane mode, WiFi, cell, BT turn off immediately. Idk About newer OSes like that says. You could maybe it's a different phone with BLE to test scanning for other devices?? Idk, I gotta look into this one now! TY for sharing.

load more comments (4 replies)
[–] njordomir@lemmy.world 8 points 1 day ago (2 children)

I've been inefficiently and lazily looking for something that can automatically turn the mobile network on and off again once per hour (or other period of time, potentially even randomized times).

I have been turning my phone off every time I go to the grocer because I firsthand verified that they have BLE beacons in use.

[–] kbobabob@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 1 day ago

If you're on Android then Tasker can definitely do it. Some manufacturers such as Samsung have similar features built in now too.

[–] cheese_greater@lemmy.world 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

You just need the worlds smallest most compact faraday container that you can easily stow it in or special faraday pocketed pants lol

[–] Serinus@lemmy.world 4 points 1 day ago (2 children)

I mean, turning it off does the job and is easier.

[–] wltr@discuss.tchncs.de 3 points 1 day ago

And saves battery, don’t forget.

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] Warl0k3@lemmy.world 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

The telcos already offer geotracking as a subscription service to LE orgs tho. It's genuinely the same thing, except this data will be crappier and need more direct municipal involvement.

[–] flandish@lemmy.world 15 points 1 day ago

they’ll have access to it without warrants. that is the entire point.

[–] tyler@programming.dev 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Since when does your telecom know your license plate?

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] W3dd1e@lemmy.zip 10 points 1 day ago

Airplane mode at all times, apparently.

(ノಠ益ಠ)ノ彡┻━┻

[–] Know_not_Scotty_does@lemmy.world 21 points 1 day ago

Well, thats appalling.

load more comments
view more: next ›