Enhancing Law Enforcement with the NetAlly G3 Pro

 

Detecting Rogue Tracking Devices and Hidden Cameras

In an age where privacy concerns and unauthorized tracking are on the rise, law enforcement agencies are increasingly tasked with protecting individuals from being monitored by rogue devices such as Apple AirTags, hidden cameras, and other similar trackers. These small, hidden devices can be used by stalkers or criminals to monitor a victim’s movements or activities, often without their knowledge. To address this growing threat, the NetAlly AirCheck G3 Pro has become an invaluable tool for law enforcement professionals, enabling them to detect and locate these covert devices quickly and efficiently, whether in vehicles or homes.

 

The NetAlly AirCheck G3 Pro: A Vital Tool for Law Enforcement

Originally developed for network professionals, the NetAlly AirCheck G3 Pro has now found a critical role in law enforcement. This rugged, hand-held device is designed to test and troubleshoot wireless networks, but its capabilities extend far beyond that. With support for 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax networks across the 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz bands, the G3 Pro is adept at scanning for a wide range of wireless signals, making it a powerful asset in the fight against illegal tracking and unauthorized surveillance.

 

How Law Enforcement Can Use the G3 Pro

When responding to a case where unauthorized tracking or surveillance is suspected, officers can use the NetAlly G3 Pro to scan the suspect’s vehicle or premises for any hidden devices. The device’s Discovery App allows officers to identify all wireless devices within range, analyzing their MAC addresses, signal strengths, and the frequency they operate on. This data provides a comprehensive overview of any potentially rogue devices present in the area.

For a more detailed analysis, the AirMapper™ app can be used to perform a Wi-Fi site survey, generating a heat map of the vehicle’s interior or the layout of a home. This feature helps officers pinpoint the exact location of a hidden tracker or camera by highlighting areas where the signal is strongest​.

 

Expanding the Search: Detecting Hidden Cameras and Devices in Homes

The NetAlly AirCheck G3 Pro is not only limited to vehicle searches. During the execution of search warrants, this device can be a crucial asset for locating hidden devices within a home. Whether these devices are actively broadcasting or not, the G3 Pro’s advanced scanning capabilities can detect their presence by identifying even the faintest signals or analyzing passive characteristics that suggest a device is present. This is particularly useful in cases where suspects may attempt to conceal recording devices, Wi-Fi cameras, or other unauthorized surveillance tools that could compromise an investigation.

Hidden cameras, for example, often transmit a wireless signal to a remote device. The NetAlly AirCheck G3 Pro can identify these signals, allowing law enforcement to locate and disable such cameras, ensuring the safety and privacy of victims.

 

Practical Application: Conducting Vehicle and Home Scans

When law enforcement officers need to scan a vehicle or a home, the process begins with powering up the NetAlly AirCheck G3 Pro and ensuring it is fully charged. The officer can then initiate the scan using the Wi-Fi Analysis App. As they move around the vehicle or the home, the G3 Pro will detect any Wi-Fi-enabled devices, including concealed trackers or hidden cameras.

The device is particularly effective in detecting tracking devices operating on the 2.4 GHz band, such as Apple AirTags, and in locating hidden cameras transmitting wireless signals. Once a device is detected, the G3 Pro’s signal strength indicator helps officers locate it with precision, allowing them to remove the device and secure the victim’s privacy.

 

Beyond Vehicle and Home Scans: Comprehensive Digital Threat Detection

The NetAlly AirCheck G3 Pro offers law enforcement more than just vehicle and home scans. Its advanced feature set allows for the detection of various wireless threats, including rogue Wi-Fi access points or unauthorized devices connecting to personal networks. This makes the G3 Pro a versatile tool for a wide range of investigative scenarios, from cybercrimes to protecting high-profile individuals from digital threats.

 

Conclusion

In a world where digital threats are pervasive, law enforcement agencies must be equipped with the best tools to protect the public. The NetAlly AirCheck G3 Pro stands out as a crucial device for detecting and neutralizing unauthorized tracking devices, hidden cameras, and other wireless threats in vehicles and homes. By integrating this tool into their investigative processes, law enforcement officers can ensure they are providing the highest level of security and privacy for those they serve.

Emory “Casey” Mullis

Criminal Investigator

Coweta County Sheriff’s Office

Emory Casey Mullis has been in Law Enforcement for over 20 years, encompassing both military and civilian roles. His journey with computers began with a Gateway 266 MHz, which was the pinnacle of consumer technology at the time, costing around $2000. Driven by pure curiosity, he disassembled his new computer right out of the box, much to the dismay of his wife, who insisted, "It better work when you put it back together!" This hands-on experience provided him with a foundational understanding of computer hardware and sparked his career as a Cyber Investigator.

Over the years, Casey has tackled numerous cyber cases, continually honing his skills and knowledge. He emphasizes the importance of questioning, challenging, and testing daily to stay abreast of the latest tools, software, and technologies. Despite the ongoing challenges, he thrives on the dynamic nature of cyber forensics and eagerly embraces every opportunity to learn and grow in this ever-evolving field.

The Yuck Factor

The Yuck Factor is best explained with an example.  Suppose you pull off a panel to begin working on some network equipment, and you find a dead rodent.  That would be a YF = 7.  Other discoveries like multiple rodents - or their time of death - might raise the number.  If on the other hand you discovered a cute puppy, very much alive and thrilled to see you, that wouldn’t even register on the YF gage.  You get the idea.

The dictionary uses a less potable example – "water recycling is problematic even aside from the yuck factor of drinking purified sewage."  For me, this would be YF = 10.  To each his own.

Yuck Factors are useful in understanding current technology trends, particularly in the medical field.  One of the primary vital signs for human wellness is blood pressure, traditionally measured by a sphygmomanometer.  Invented by Samuel Siegfried Karl Ritter von Basch in 1881, its name is derived from the Greek for “pulse” followed by the French for “pressure meter.”  A practical device was developed by Scipione Riva-Rocci in 1896, and later introduced in the US by pioneering neurosurgeon Dr. Harvey Cushing. 

For as long as I can remember, any visit to a doctor began with measurements of my weight, height and blood pressure.  The latter was accomplished by a medical professional using an inflatable cuff around my upper arm combined with a stethoscope pressed to the inside of my forearm. 

By the early 2000’s, coronary artery disease had become entrenched as the number one cause of death worldwide, and blood pressure was recognized as a key metric for early detection and prevention.  In order to make it easier for folks to track their BP, blood pressure kiosks began appearing in pharmacies and other public locations.  Curiosity about the machine more than my blood pressure led me to try one.  I sat down and slid my arm into a plastic cylinder, pressing the start button once properly aligned.  The machine began to hum and its grip on my upper arm continued to tighten.  I had no idea how to stop it, or how tight it would get.  My blood pressure rose just thinking about it.  Since that day, I’ve never used one of those kiosks.  Yuck Factor = 5.

My wife and I have two adult children – a son and a daughter.  Our daughter is a registered nurse and during her training, she was required to find willing subjects on which to practice her IV catheter insertion skills.  Once she had poked her way through most of her fellow nursing students, she turned to me as her next “guinea pig.”  We set things up on the dining room table, and once we were through, we noticed that neither my wife nor my son was anywhere in sight.  The insertion of sharp objects into the human body has a very high YF for both of them.  Perhaps because I was in the capable hands of a trusted family member, and had a sense of control over the process, it seemed like no big deal.

But technology, as always, continues to stumble onward.  Nearly a quarter of a billion IV catheters are placed each year in the US, and more than a fourth of those fail on the first attempt.  Children are an even tougher target.  So-called failed sticks can cause permanent scarring or nerve damage.  The solution? - HaemoBot, the IV catheter insertion robot. 

In the early stages of development, the device uses a sophisticated automatic infrared vein finding system.  For now, a human has full control of the actual insertion via a haptic joystick.  The developers claim that the robot can perform many motions at a level of precision that cannot be achieved by human practitioners.  Still, a machine would be sticking a needle into my strapped-down arm.  Yuck Factor = 8.

The natural question to ask before consenting to any medical procedure is “Is it safe?.”  Movie buffs may recall this key line from Marathon Man.  In the film, Laurence Olivier (as a Nazi dentist) tortures Dustin Hoffman (a naive history student) with a dental drill.  As the drill grinds on and Hoffman squirms in the chair, he is repeatedly asked “Is it safe?”, while having no idea what “It” refers to. Although the film was a box office success, it failed to win the endorsement of the American Dental Association.

Even with a highly trained professional wielding the drill, most of us don’t relish our visits to the dentist.  Dental technology, from the Boston company Perceptive, is helping with a new scanner which uses optical coherence tomography to build a 3D volumetric model of teeth, gums and the nerves underneath the tooth surface.  Harmful X-Ray radiation is eliminated, and the system currently detects cavities with 90% accuracy.  Better data should enable better treatment.  So far, so good.

Why not take this detailed data set, feed it to an AI-enabled robot, and automate the entire treatment process?  Perceptive has done just that - their machine recently completed an entire dental procedure on a human patient about 8 times faster than a human dentist could do it.  The company aims for better precision, higher efficiency, less patient fatigue and reduced chair time through fully automated dental care.  Although the goal is to reduce the Yuck Factor of going to the dentist, I predict that will take some time.

It's inevitable.  Robotics Engineers and AI Scientists will continue to seek ways of automating - and ostensibly improving - procedures which require detailed data, expert interpretation, and precision movements.  The medical and dental fields are fertile ground for their work.  The question on all our minds, regardless of what Yuck Factor we eventually assign to the newest technology....

“Is it safe?”

 

Author Profile - Paul W. Smith - leader, educator, technologist, writer - has a lifelong interest in the countless ways that technology changes the course of our journey through life.  In addition to being a regular contributor to NetworkDataPedia, he maintains the website Technology for the Journey and occasionally writes for Blogcritics.  Paul has over 50 years of experience in research and advanced development for companies ranging from small startups to industry leaders.  His other passion is teaching - he is a former Adjunct Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the Colorado School of Mines. Paul holds a doctorate in Applied Mechanics from the California Institute of Technology, as well as Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California, Santa Barbara.