Here you go, in an effort to clear up the enormous amount of misperception, cluelessness, and uncertainty about the implications of carrying a smartphone/cellphone...
First the Stingray, acts as a cellular tower to send out signals to get the specific device to connect to it. So long as the cellular radio is powered it's actively searching for "cell towers." (See attached pics or this video explaining:
)
American's still don’t yet understand the full implications of a world in which the US Government can monitor and track its innocent citizens at all times. Many believe that they become “invisible” by turning off their smartphone or putting it in airplane mode. This is not true. Others believe they can evade tracking by turning off the GPS function on their cell phones. This also does not work.
<libertarian technology rant>
Governments (including the United States) have been cagey about whether they collect and keep location data on average citizens, thanks mostly as well as Edward Snowden’s ongoing revelations are beginning to reveal the full extent to which the government has been unconstitutionally spying on its citizens and the information war is being won by the US government. It's clear, however, is that governments are two steps ahead of citizens in terms of personal communications technology (and the secrecy by which they guard their information).
<\libertarian technology rant>
1. Phones with GPS devices can be tracked even if they are in "airplane mode", evidence is pointing to that even when physically fully shut off, that the GPS signal continues to be sent even when the phone appears inactive.
2. Cell phones tapping into wi-fi connections can also be easily located. Again, turning phones “off” as one is travelling abroad or in the car is no guarantee that the phones are actually off.
So for regularly everyday usage, the best thing anyone can do is leave their phone at home. This seems like the obvious choice as long as there is no guaranteed way to remain invisible and undetected while carrying a phone.
Now for the "protestor" (regardless of which political ideological bent you advocate for) of course, the problem with this strategy is that it plays into the hands of governments who would like to impede demonstrators’ communications. The way to get around this is a Faraday Cage also known as a Faraday Shield (the foil pack that your EzPass comes in so that the USPS delivery doesn't accidentally charge your ezpass account when being delivered)
Speaking of EzPass, they are tracking you with those as well. Ever wonder how they keep the NYSDOT system to get to up to date "Travel Time Information Systems?" They use passing EzPass' to track and calculate the time/ distance traveled rates.
An interesting research on the EzPass spying, performed in 2011, I'm sure it's much more invasive now. Go back to paying cash the discount isn't worth it, or use the Faraday Shield when not at the tolls.
EzPass is facilitating more government spying and surveillance:
From the 2008 Blackhat Conference, H/T to @PUKINGMONKEY
You can build one yourself
https://hackaday.io/project/11938-e-zpass-command-and-control
More spying:
https://www.techdirt.com/articles/2...e-handling-data-responsibly-not-so-much.shtml
https://mobile.reuters.com/article/amp/idUSBRE98Q14G20130927
This doesn't even include all the ALPR's that are tracking vehicles.
https://amp.gothamist.com/amp/articles/create?article_id=56a7d4e6ada6e25a08fe5f08
And it's not just the NYPD, drive in to Freeport, New York and Chief Miguel Bermudez and his 95 officers track every vehicle with 27 fixed cameras that read license plates at all of the town's 11 entry points.
New York State also tracks every single NYS license plate traveling throughout the US.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news...archiving-license-surveillance-data/13261679/
