How to detect GPS tracking units

New GPS auto-tracking technology allows almost anyone to track another person. Also, almost all new cell phones have built-in GPS tracking capabilities. Some even have the ability to transmit location information even without a battery. All of which makes you wonder what happened to personal privacy. The answer is that there really is no privacy. Of course, there are legal restrictions on how and when you can use the new tracking technology; however, detecting GPS tracking units can sometimes be difficult.

Basically, there are two types of GPS tracking device technology available to the public. The simplest is called a passive tracking device or recorder. This device is also the most difficult to detect and defend. These devices can be as small as a matchbox and can be hidden almost anywhere. They are attached to a vehicle or individual and after a specified time they must be retrieved. After recovery, the device is typically connected to a personal computer and the information is downloaded into a database provided by the device manufacturer.

Probably the best defense against passive tracking/logging devices comes in the form of a GPS jammer. These small units typically plug into your car’s cigarette lighter port and provide protection out to about 30 feet in any direction. Small, battery-operated handheld units are also available that also provide short-range lockout. These units can range in price from $200 to $850.

The second type of GPS auto trackers or personal GPS tracking units are called real-time tracking devices. These units, just as the name suggests, provide real-time, current location information about the person or vehicle being tracked. This was accomplished through the use of cell phone technology. Recent technological improvements have greatly reduced the size and reliability of these tracking devices. You can purchase a battery-powered unit the size of a small cell phone that will provide tracking information for up to a week before the battery requires charging. Most commonly, these units are attached to a vehicle and use the vehicle’s power supply to provide power to the tracking unit.

Real-time tracking devices usually require the user to hire a GPS tracking service company. These companies often provide the tracking devices and the software necessary to track the device on your personal computer. Depending on the contract, the information is uploaded to you at specific time intervals. The most common data uploads range from 5 to 10 minutes.

Defending against this type of tracking device is relatively easy with a combination cell phone/GPS jamming device. These units range in cost from $300 to over $1,000. Of course, a cell phone or GPS-jamming device can achieve the same effect. Also, if you think you are being illegally tracked, you can contact your local law enforcement agency and let them run a scan of the vehicle or personal effects in question. Many small law enforcement agencies do not have this capability, and in that case, you have the option of purchasing a scanning unit and doing the scanning yourself.

Advice to the wise if you are involved in a criminal enterprise. Much of what we have described here will not stop US government agencies from tracking you and your vehicles.

In most cases, it is illegal to track almost anyone without their permission. However, given the fact that many tracking devices are so difficult to detect, it is likely that the illegal technology of GPS autotrackers and personal tracking devices will continue to be used.