Tracking Down the Trackers

It seems like technology very often turns out to be a double-edged sword, doesn’t it? Artificial intelligence (AI), for instance, makes us more productive and efficient, but it comes with worries ranging from job losses to rogue AIs destroying the planet. Similarly, social media enables us to stay connected with other people in a way that is unprecedented in human history, but it is also a major contributor to disorders like anxiety and depression.

Also consider GPS tracking devices — these tiny tags can virtually disappear on our possessions to help us find lost items and prevent theft. But when misused, their ability to be precisely located just about anywhere on the planet has a dark side. Bad actors can put them on cars, for instance, to stalk their victims. And because they are so small, the people being targeted will have no idea that they are in danger.

This particular concern may soon be a thing of the past, thanks to the efforts of a team of researchers at NYU Tandon. They have developed an easy-to-use and inexpensive device that can detect the presence of nearby GPS trackers to give us all peace of mind. In the past, the systems designed to detect these trackers were complex and expensive, making them impractical for real-world use by most people.

The team’s tool relies on a $150 device called tinySA, which is a portable spectrum analyzer frequently used by amateur radio enthusiasts. Using tinySA, the researchers developed a custom algorithm that scans for weak LTE IoT signals, which is the type typically used by low-cost 4G GPS trackers, and isolates them from the background noise of regular cellular transmissions. The result is a reliable way to detect even hidden trackers within about a three-foot radius.

Importantly, the setup does not require any special knowledge to operate. While the current prototype uses a tinySA for signal scanning, the team envisions future versions being integrated into smartphones or dedicated black-box-style devices that alert users when a suspicious signal is detected. Toward that goal of building a practical, real-world system, the team is working on new deployment strategies. These include partnerships with domestic abuse support organizations, mobile roadside-style detection services, and systems that could be permanently installed in vehicles.