GSM Trackers: How to detect them.

Anybody got any tips on how to detect the presence of one of
those real-time GPS tracker thingies that someone has secretly slipped
into your vehicle? Someone can follow your every move for years from
a safe distance, and you'll never even know it, unless you check.
These things are positively lethal, and are becoming
a major downside to cellphone technology. They are quite difficult
to detect, because all they need to do is send a short RF burst (text
message with location co-ordinates) every time you stop your car.

And what's the legal situation - is it illegal in the US for
someone to attach a tracker to your car, without your knowledge?
And what are the penalties? Is there a group somewhere dedicated
to this topic?

SM

---

› See More: GSM Trackers: How to detect them.

Soundman wrote:
> Anybody got any tips on how to detect the presence of one of
> those real-time GPS tracker thingies that someone has secretly slipped
> into your vehicle?

For a start they could be using any form of RF to get the signal out, it
doesn't have to be a cell phone.

> And what's the legal situation - is it illegal in the US for
> someone to attach a tracker to your car, without your knowledge?
> And what are the penalties?

Well if you can't find it just by looking, then chances are it will be
law enforcement doing it and they would have a court order. So it's
legality wouldn't come into question although your behaviour that has
attracted their attention would.

> Is there a group somewhere dedicated
> to this topic?

Yep, it's called a physc ward for people who are paranoid.



--
The views I present are that of my own and NOT of any organisation I may
belong to.

73 de Simon, VK3XEM.
<http://web.acma.gov.au/pls/radcom/client_search.client_lookup?pCLIENT_NO=157452>

Simon Templar wrote:
> Soundman wrote:
>
>> Anybody got any tips on how to detect the presence of one of
>> those real-time GPS tracker thingies that someone has secretly slipped
>> into your vehicle?
>
>
> For a start they could be using any form of RF to get the signal out, it
> doesn't have to be a cell phone.
True, but cellphone is usually used. With other forms of RF, the range
is limited to that of the RF transmitter hidden in your car. With
cellphone technology, you can be tracked practically anywhere.
>
>> And what's the legal situation - is it illegal in the US for
>> someone to attach a tracker to your car, without your knowledge?
>> And what are the penalties?
>
>
> Well if you can't find it just by looking, then chances are it will be
> law enforcement doing it and they would have a court order. So it's
> legality wouldn't come into question although your behaviour that has
> attracted their attention would.

Rubbish. Anyone can attach these things under your car parked in your
driveway in the dead of night, and you'll know nothing about it. It
doesen't have to be law enforcement.

>> Is there a group somewhere dedicated
>> to this topic?
>
>
> Yep, it's called a physc ward for people who are paranoid.
>
I'll let that slide.
Returning to the matter in hand, how do you detect these things?
They are the ideal stalking device (anonymous, readily available,
and hard to detect), allowing just about anyone to play big brother.
Perhaps there are some knowledgable cellphone technicians here who
might be able to help. If the prospect of just about any moron being
able to stalk you doesn't bother you, then perhaps it should. This
is scary stuff.

Soundman wrote:
> Rubbish. Anyone can attach these things under your car parked in your
> driveway in the dead of night, and you'll know nothing about it. It
> doesen't have to be law enforcement.

All you have to do is look, if some moron installed it you will find it
easy. If law enforcement installed it you will be lucky to find it.

> Returning to the matter in hand, how do you detect these things?
> They are the ideal stalking device (anonymous, readily available,
> and hard to detect), allowing just about anyone to play big brother.
> Perhaps there are some knowledgable cellphone technicians here who
> might be able to help. If the prospect of just about any moron being
> able to stalk you doesn't bother you, then perhaps it should. This
> is scary stuff.

Any moron would probably not have the money required for really good
technology and the crap that they'd use wouldn't be easily hidden.

Stick a mirror onto a broom and run it under the car and if a moron
installed it you will find it. If law enforcement installed it then you
won't have much hope, but then again if it is them tough luck!


--
The views I present are that of my own and NOT of any organisation I may
belong to.

73 de Simon, VK3XEM.
<http://web.acma.gov.au/pls/radcom/client_search.client_lookup?pCLIENT_NO=157452>

Simon Templar <[email protected]> wrote in news:5nqc85Fj9s53U1
@mid.individual.net:

> Well if you can't find it just by looking, then chances are it will be
> law enforcement doing it and they would have a court order. So it's
> legality wouldn't come into question although your behaviour that has
> attracted their attention would.
>
>

No court order necessary in the USA any more. Cops can tap your phone any
time they like under the new Homeland Security laws after the false flag
operation on 9/11.

The US Constitution is moot.

Larry
--
You can tell there's extremely
intelligent life in the universe
because they have never called Earth.

Soundman <[email protected]> wrote in news:5nqhdjFjlf6bU1
@mid.individual.net:

> Returning to the matter in hand, how do you detect these things?
> They are the ideal stalking device (anonymous, readily available,
> and hard to detect), allowing just about anyone to play big brother.
> P

http://www.winradio.com/home/erd.htm

http://www.lessemf.com/rf.html#446

Larry
--
You can tell there's extremely
intelligent life in the universe
because they have never called Earth.

Thanks for those links, Larry.
There was something of interest there.
But traditional RF meters just don't cut it when it comes to detecting
these things. They will only be transmitting for a very short amount
of time (perhaps a few hundred milliseconds), so the signal won't be
around long enough to be measurable. Hence the reason why these things
are so difficult to detect (and my post here).

The issue isn't that law enforcement can track you (they would have
a right to do so - usually!) - it's the fact that just about anybody can
do it nowadays. GPS/cellphone trackers can be had by anyone with about
$200 to spend. Battery operated ones can be attached to your car in
seconds, with a magnetic mount. The battery will run out eventually,
but that tracker can be replaced by another one with a fresh battery,
also in a few seconds. Some trackers will report the battery status to
the user, so he knows when it's time to change it.
How many people go looking under their cars regularly?
And if you forget to lock your car some night, and someone manages to
wire one into the vehicle electrical system, then you are screwed -
permanently. You could end up having to dismantle your car to find it,
assuming you know it's there in the first place - hence my question
on detecting methods.

All very worrying stuff, really.

SM

Larry wrote:
> Simon Templar <[email protected]> wrote in news:5nqc85Fj9s53U1
> @mid.individual.net:
>
>
>>Well if you can't find it just by looking, then chances are it will be
>>law enforcement doing it and they would have a court order. So it's
>>legality wouldn't come into question although your behaviour that has
>>attracted their attention would.
>>
>>
>
>
> No court order necessary in the USA any more. Cops can tap your phone any
> time they like under the new Homeland Security laws after the false flag
> operation on 9/11.
>
> The US Constitution is moot.
>
> Larry

In news:[email protected] Simon Templar
<[email protected]> wrote:

> Yep, it's called a physc ward for people who are paranoid.

Paranoid? Why?

Assuming that these devices exist, people buy them with the intent of
using them.

Therefore, there must exist a set of people who are actually targets or
potential targets.

Besides, just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they aren't actually
out to get you.

--
Bert Hyman St. Paul, MN [email protected]

Soundman <[email protected]> wrote in news:5nsr5lFjap40U1
@mid.individual.net:

> Thanks for those links, Larry.
> There was something of interest there.
> But traditional RF meters just don't cut it when it comes to
detecting
> these things. They will only be transmitting for a very short
amount
> of time (perhaps a few hundred milliseconds), so the signal
won't be
> around long enough to be measurable. Hence the reason why these
things
> are so difficult to detect (and my post here).
>

Not true. A pulse of RF triggers these devices into a much
longer alarm mode that remains, sometimes until reset manually in
some models. To FIND these pulsed transmitters is much more
difficult, so the devices that actually measure the level of the
pulse record their finding so you can move them around to get
many readings. It's not difficult, at all, for these cheapest of
devices to detect the pulse of RF from a cellphone or other
digital transmitter, store it or trigger an alarm from it.

The vehicles electrical system, even in a new computerized
Escalade, is a very simple circuit, indeed. You've been watching
too many movies. There are few inputs to the main computers that
would disable it completely. They might make the Check Engine
light come on....which, I'm convinced, is on a timer anyway to
make the dealer's service department profitable. The cars do
that very well by themselves without government agent
interference, thank you.

I supposed if you had a more-expensive GM car, they could call
Onstar and disable it. My friend Dan got a brand new Escalade to
tow his smallest boat to the boat landing. When I went to see it
for the first time, I told him to act drunk after I pushed the
Onstar button.....

"Onstar, may I help you?"

"Yes, operator, we've just come out of a bar...", I slurred in a
drunken voice, "...and need you to help us get back home. Can
you do that?"

"Mr Fernandez, you already ARE home! In your driveway it shows
here!", she stated flatly.

"OH?! Is that why his wife's Mercedes is parked over there?", I
continued to stutter....

"Mr Fernandez, both of you are way to intoxicated to drive so I
have disabled your Escalade for four hours until someone more
sober calls me back. I can't let you drive in this condition
with good concience."

The damned Escalade was DEAD! I couldn't even get the gages to
read! She'd completely disabled the engine!

After we got through rolling around holding our guts and
laughing, we called ONstar back and told them we wanted to see
what they would do in those circumstances. There was a click and
the Escalade came back to life. The Onstar guy, a man this time
who was quite amused at our test, said if we called him with the
PIN number and told him the Escalade had been hijacked, he would
immediately shut down all systems over Onstar's cellphone
controls so the SUV couldn't be driven, even if hotwired. It's
that good. They know exactly where it is from its GPS data
within about 3 feet. He could even tell me which end of the
driveway we had it parked!

Larry
--
You can tell there's extremely
intelligent life in the universe
because they have never called Earth.

The Daring Dufas wrote:
> Soundman wrote:
>
>> Thanks for those links, Larry.
>> There was something of interest there.
>> But traditional RF meters just don't cut it when it comes to detecting
>> these things. They will only be transmitting for a very short amount
>> of time (perhaps a few hundred milliseconds), so the signal won't be
>> around long enough to be measurable. Hence the reason why these things
>> are so difficult to detect (and my post here).
>>
>> The issue isn't that law enforcement can track you (they would have
>> a right to do so - usually!) - it's the fact that just about anybody
>> can do it nowadays. GPS/cellphone trackers can be had by anyone with
>> about
>> $200 to spend. Battery operated ones can be attached to your car in
>> seconds, with a magnetic mount. The battery will run out eventually,
>> but that tracker can be replaced by another one with a fresh battery,
>> also in a few seconds. Some trackers will report the battery status to
>> the user, so he knows when it's time to change it.
>> How many people go looking under their cars regularly?
>> And if you forget to lock your car some night, and someone manages to
>> wire one into the vehicle electrical system, then you are screwed -
>> permanently. You could end up having to dismantle your car to find it,
>> assuming you know it's there in the first place - hence my question
>> on detecting methods.
>>
>> All very worrying stuff, really.
>>
>> SM
>>
>> Larry wrote:
>>
>>> Simon Templar <[email protected]> wrote in news:5nqc85Fj9s53U1
>>> @mid.individual.net:
>>>
>>>
>>>> Well if you can't find it just by looking, then chances are it will
>>>> be law enforcement doing it and they would have a court order. So
>>>> it's legality wouldn't come into question although your behaviour
>>>> that has attracted their attention would.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> No court order necessary in the USA any more. Cops can tap your
>>> phone any time they like under the new Homeland Security laws after
>>> the false flag operation on 9/11.
>>>
>>> The US Constitution is moot.
>>>
>>> Larry
>
>
> The guy who does my exhaust system repairs found a tracker
> under a police car he was working on. That caused a real
> stir.
>
> TDD
Did he mention where exactly he found it? And was it wired into the
vehicle electrical system?

SM

The Daring Dufas <[email protected]> wrote in
news:[email protected]:

> When I saw the first OnStar commercial I was suspicious.
> The advertising doesn't mention that they can turn your
> vehicle off. If owned a GM car, I believe I would invest
> in a cellphone jammer for those times I wished my location
> to be private. My cop buddies have told me how easy it is
> to track down someone with an OnStar equipped vehicle. If
> Hitlery Clinton becomes president don't become her political
> enemy if you have OnStar. <snicker>
> Anybody want OnStar collars for political dissidents?
>
> TDD
>
>

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...16420567729697

1-800-BLONDESTAR - When only the best help will do....(c;

Larry
--
You can tell there's extremely
intelligent life in the universe
because they have never called Earth.