Smart Phone Tracking: Can it be Shielded?

ICU 812's Avatar
I understand that simply turning off a phone or closing tracking apps may not work.

Can a phone be shielded from incoming or out going signals?

Can a ophone be wrapped in Aluminum foil or copper screen wire to electronically isolate the phone?
Leave it on and put it in Airplane Mode. Or if you want to be paranoid, turn it off and remove the battery. If you can't remove the battery, your paranoia will remain.
There are a scant handful of ways to protect yourself from phones. Here's some general best practice from someone who very much knows their shit.

-Pull the fucking battery out when you don't want to be tracked. If your battery is built in, get a new phone.
-If you can't pull the battery out and don't want to buy a new one, wrap the entire thing in aluminum foil, then slip it into a Mylar pouch. The things hard drives come packed in. Ask your local geek for one if you're not the type to buy computer parts. Seriously I see places selling them for a couple bucks each and I've got like 30 lying around in my study alone.
-If you absolutely need to use your phone, turn off bluetooth and GPS. I'm assuming you need mobile data for whatever you're doing. Bluetooth is easily leaked and a great way to track people from an opfor perspective. GPS is even easier.
---If you hit this point, your phone should be a burner only. Do NOT use a personal phone at this point.
-Your leakage vectors come in two flavors - apps and phone provider. The latter is only relevant when your phone provider has been subpoena'd as far as I know. Apps are the bigger risk to both TLAs and malicious parties. Force stop what you don't need, or better yet just don't install it. Again, use a burner. Deny app permissions whenever possible. Does snapchat REALLY need to know your location? Does facebook? Just deny it.
Unique_Carpenter's Avatar
Turning off GPS is not a solution.
Telcos can track phones from the towers and triangulate. They've been doing that for decades in "emergencies".
Pull the battery is only solution.
A Faraday cage (wrap cell in whatever, usually tinfoil) usually leaks a bit, Forget tinfoil, buy two Faraday bags.

As for Telco tracking, yes subpoenas. But also exigent circumstances, where all leo are allowed to declare an emergency for quite quick assistance from telcos. Every telco and ISP are required by the Feds to have posted procedures to follow that require Senior level LEO (not the beat cop or detective) to sign off. Think Grandma with Alzheimer that wanders off, but always has her cell.

Anyway, almost pointless in today's age as once a phone is back on, you're back on the grid. Does anyone with an SO actually want to explain why they are completely off grid? Instead of "left it at the bar, gym, shopping place, in the car (but not in the car)" (wherever the phone was for 59 minutes). Although the dead battery does work, how often can you use that?
I will 2nd the burner phone. I have it set up on my burner phone so that I can forward texts messages and phone calls. Then when I go to hobby I leave my phone at the office.
Unique_Carpenter's Avatar
Of course a burner phone.
Or google voice.
But still, both must be secured so an SO can't discover.
In my neck of the woods, three times in last several weeks gals have mentioned that other clients have had tele#s compromised by SOs.
Ok guys, does anyone think one of our pro gals wants to partake in your personal drama?
Keep your phones secure.
Anyway, almost pointless in today's age as once a phone is back on, you're back on the grid. Does anyone with an SO actually want to explain why they are completely off grid? Instead of "left it at the bar, gym, shopping place, in the car (but not in the car)" (wherever the phone was for 59 minutes). Although the dead battery does work, how often can you use that? Originally Posted by Unique_Carpenter
Two?

Also, the SO may have another way to track you such as OnStar. Or the automated toll tag.

My wife actually put the same type of tracking device they used on "Breaking Bad" in my car.

One kinda solution other than a burner phone is to have a work or business phone that she doesn't have access to. Again, kinda and there are issues with that.

Of course a burner phone.
Or google voice.
But still, both must be secured so an SO can't discover.
In my neck of the woods, three times in last several weeks gals have mentioned that other clients have had tele#s compromised by SOs.
Ok guys, does anyone think one of our pro gals wants to partake in your personal drama?
Keep your phones secure. Originally Posted by Unique_Carpenter
It's just not the car or the phone. It's credit cards and the bank.

Have a prenup. Put as much as you can in trusts and other untouchable legal instruments. Never co mingle. No joint accounts. Change the combination to the gun safe often.
read all of these possibilities gave me a migrant. Glad I'm single. But, I'll keep these in mind for the future. Thanks fellow hobbyist. Peace out!
Zollner's Avatar
Of course a burner phone.
Or google voice. Originally Posted by Unique_Carpenter
Is linking a burner phone to GV ok?
GV works great but isn't GV linked to all your Google accounts, gmail etc?

Have noticed GV has not been running smoothly lately, seems to freeze up/crash a lot.
Is linking a burner phone to GV ok?
GV works great but isn't GV linked to all your Google accounts, gmail etc?

Have noticed GV has not been running smoothly lately, seems to freeze up/crash a lot. Originally Posted by Zollner
To use GV, create a new Gmail account and get a number with that. Use that number with Whatsapp. Create a second account (Gmail or Yahoo) and make each the recovery account for the other, so neither is tied to your RW accounts. Also, use a VPN.
Zollner's Avatar
Thanks ron!
I usually hobby during the day. When I do I leave my personal phone at the office. As someone said above, they can find youjust by triangulation. With your hobby phone and your personal phone traveling at the same route, at the same speed, making the same turns, they would know who you are.
hello sir im new here
Carpenter is correct. Triangulation is real and of you have a hobby phone and a regular phone constantly next to each other hitting the towers, it's easy to figure it out who you are.

A Simple GPS tracker is cheap and can easily be slipped into the crevice of your car by a suspicious spouse.

The police cameras,yes the ones on the telephone poles with the blue fashing light, records your license plate every time you pass.

Someone mentioned OnStar. One phone call to the company with the vehicles information can provide a suspicious spouse all the information of your whereabouts.