Sarah Connor Uses This Tool to Stay Off the Grid
By Naomi Brockwell, Founder and Director of NBTV
Our phones are the ultimate tracking devices.
Every day, we carry these devices with us that map our lives in extraordinary detail. Our phones constantly broadcast and receive signals, and these digital breadcrumbs allow countless entities to track us. GPS monitors our location, cell towers triangulate our position, BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) follows us as we move, and even keeping our Wi-Fi turned on becomes a tracking tool — our phones act as beacons, broadcasting unique fingerprints while scanning and logging nearby networks. This constant interaction enables companies like Google, Apple, and apps we’ve granted permissions to, to map our location in real time based on the shifting strength of these connections.
But it doesn’t stop there. Many apps on our phones contain embedded tracking software—small pieces of code called SDKs—that collect and send off our location data to shadowy shell companies or data brokers. Byron Tau’s investigative work dives deep into these mechanisms, revealing how extensively we are tracked without our consent.
Why Do We Still Carry These Devices?
It’s easy to ask, "If our phones are tracking us this much, why don’t we just stop using them?" The reality is, they’ve become indispensable tools. Phones allow us to stay connected, capture memories, record notes, consume media, and navigate our world. These conveniences are undeniable, but must they come at the cost of our privacy?
The good news is, you don’t have to choose between utility and privacy. With the right tools, you can enjoy the benefits of your devices without sacrificing your location data. In our previous video about location tracking, we explain which settings to toggle to stop your device transmitting your movements. However, if you want peace of mind about whether these toggles are actually working, a Faraday bag is a great solution.
Faraday Bags: A Simple Privacy Solution
Faraday bags offer a practical and accessible way to block tracking and protect your personal data. Named after Michael Faraday, these bags work as portable, flexible versions of the Faraday cage—a structure designed to shield against electromagnetic waves. Faraday bags are made from conductive materials like aluminum, copper, or tightly woven metallic fabrics. When electromagnetic waves—used for signals like Wi-Fi, cellular, Bluetooth, or GPS—hit the surface of the bag, the conductive material redirects and blocks the signals, preventing them from passing through.
The construction of a Faraday bag determines its effectiveness. Bags made from conductive materials, such as aluminum and copper, are highly effective at blocking signals. The effectiveness of mesh-based Faraday bags relies on the size of the mesh holes; smaller holes are better at blocking higher-frequency waves. Some Faraday bags use tightly woven metalized fabrics, where layers and thickness play a significant role in blocking even low-frequency signals, which are harder to obstruct.
Faraday bags excel at blocking high-frequency signals in the radio wave spectrum, such as UHF (Ultra High Frequency) and SHF (Super High Frequency), which are used for Wi-Fi, cellular communication, Bluetooth, and GPS. These signals rely on a clear line of sight to transmit effectively, making them particularly susceptible to Faraday bag protection.
Why Use a Faraday Bag?
Sarah Connor uses a chip packet to block signals in Terminator, but you don’t have to be running from killer robots to find Faraday bags useful. Of course, they’re invaluable for high-risk professions: maybe you’re an investigative journalist or a human rights worker who needs to minimize your digital footprint. But there are plenty of everyday situations where they come in handy, too:
Protecting Your Privacy at Public Events: Perhaps you’re attending a protest — Faraday bags can help keep your data to yourself.
Preventing Wireless Theft: Modern credit cards, passports, and key fobs have RFID chips that can be scanned from a distance. Faraday bags block these signals, protecting you from theft or unauthorized access.
Guarding Against Tracking: From sketchy apps to malicious actors, location-tracking vulnerabilities can make you a target. Faraday bags block those signals, giving you an added layer of protection.
Ultimately, using a Faraday bag isn’t about hiding secrets—it’s about asserting your right to control who gets access to your data.
How to Choose the Right Faraday Bag
The effectiveness of a Faraday bag depends on its design and materials. Here’s what to consider:
Material Type: Look for conductive metals like aluminum or copper. These materials are cost-effective and highly efficient at blocking RF signals.
Mesh vs. Tightly Woven: Mesh-based bags must have very small holes to block higher-frequency signals. Tightly woven metallic fabrics will vary in effectiveness depending on how thick they are and how many layers are used on the bag.
Some bags are optimized for RFID shielding, ideal for credit cards or passports, while others are designed to block cellular signals and GPS tracking. Choose one based on your specific needs.
Testing Your Faraday Bag
Once you have your Faraday bag, it’s crucial to test it, especially if you’re in a high-risk situation. Even a small gap in the seal can lead to leaks. Here’s how to ensure it works:
Cellular Signal Test: Place your phone inside and try calling it. If the bag is working, your call should not go through.
Bluetooth Test: Connect your phone to a Bluetooth speaker and play music, then place either in the bag. The connection should drop.
Wi-Fi Test: While playing a video from the internet, put your phone in the bag. The video should stop playing once the preloaded portion has finished.
For advanced testing, there are apps that can measure nearby signal emissions, potentially detecting leaks in your bag.
Shortcomings of Faraday Bags
Faraday bags block external signals like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS, but they can’t stop internal sensors like accelerometers or gyroscopes from collecting data. Apps that use these sensors can still infer movement-based information. For full protection, consider disabling these sensors in your settings.
Final Thoughts: Privacy Isn’t Extreme
With identity theft and constant tracking on the rise, safeguarding your information isn’t about having something to hide—it’s common sense. Faraday bags offer an easy, practical way to take back control of your privacy without giving up the technology you rely on.
NBTV is a non-profit educational platform that teaches people how to reclaim control of their lives in the digital age. They give people the tools they need to take back their privacy, money, and free online expression.
Learn more at NBTV.media