Andre S. was a 26-year-old man from Indianapolis, Indiana.
In June, his relationship with his girlfriend ended – sort of.
See, what Andre didn’t know was that his girlfriend had secretly placed a $25 Apple AirTag in the back of his car.
For weeks, she tracked his every movement and knew where he was and where he would be at any given moment.
One day, his girlfriend tracking Andre down with the tracker, then shot and killed him.
Police investigators confirmed she used the AirTag to stalk Andre before the murder.
After police returned Andre’s car to his family, his older brother ripped out the back seat and found the hidden tracker.
This cheap technology – originally marketed as a convenient way to find your keys – has become a weapon of choice for stalkers and abusers.
As smart home technology spreads everywhere, the risks of digital surveillance are growing faster than most people realize.
Which means, it’s high time to take digital privacy seriously.
So, here’s what you need to know about tech tracking and why going off-grid matters more than ever
The Hidden Dangers of Connected Devices:
Every smart device in your home is a potential surveillance tool.
Smart cameras, doorbell cameras, smart speakers, fitness trackers, smartphones, smart TVs, and even smart appliances all collect data about your life.
These devices track your location, habits, routines, conversations, and movements 24/7.
The data isn’t just sitting on your device – it’s uploaded to company servers where it can be hacked, breached, or accessed by people you never authorized.
When companies suffer security breaches, your most private moments become exposed to complete strangers.
Big Tech Surveillance:
Beyond security breaches, tech companies themselves collect massive amounts of data on you.
Your smart devices create a detailed profile of your life – when you’re home, when you leave, your daily routines and habits, and your conversations.
This data gets sold to advertisers, shared with third parties, and stored indefinitely on corporate servers.
During a crisis or government emergency, this data could be used to track and locate you.
If you’re trying to maintain a low profile or protect your family’s safety, connected devices make you an open book.
Government and Law Enforcement Access:
Law enforcement can access data from your smart devices through warrants or direct requests to tech companies.
Ring doorbell cameras, for example, have partnerships with over 2,000 police departments.
Your location history from your smartphone can be subpoenaed and used to track your movements going back years.
In a serious crisis where civil liberties are suspended, this surveillance network becomes a tool for tracking citizens.
Drawbacks of Going Completely Off-Grid:
Convenience Loss:
Going off-grid from technology means giving up the convenience of smart home features.
You lose remote access to security footage, automated climate control, and voice-activated assistants.
Social and Professional Isolation:
Complete disconnection from smartphones and internet can hurt your ability to stay connected with family and maintain employment.
Many jobs require smartphone access and the internet connectivity.
Finding the right balance between privacy and practical necessity takes careful planning.
Upfront Costs:
Replacing smart devices with privacy-focused alternatives or manual systems requires investment.
You’ll likely need to spend money on privacy tools, encrypted communications, and offline storage solutions.
Here’s how to reduce your tech tracking footprint:
Level 1: Basic Privacy
Cover or disconnect cameras when not in use.
Turn off location services on your phone except when actively needed.
Use privacy-focused browsers.
Disable voice assistants like Alexa and Siri when not in use.
Level 2: Moderate Protection
Replace smart home devices with manual alternatives – traditional locks instead of smart locks, regular thermostats instead of Nest.
Use a VPN for all internet activity to mask your location and encrypt your data.
Store important files locally on encrypted external drives rather than cloud services.
Level 3: Maximum Privacy
Remove all smart devices from your home completely.
Use cash instead of credit cards to avoid transaction tracking.
Keep a secondary phone for essential communications only and leave your primary phone at home when you need privacy.
Create physical security systems that don’t connect to the internet – motion-activated lights, manual alarm systems, and physical barriers.
The reality is that every connected device is a potential surveillance tool.
But the truth is this: true security comes from controlling your own data, not trusting tech companies to protect it.
When a $25 tracking device can help someone hunt you down, digital privacy becomes vital for survival.
Andre never knew he was being tracked until it was too late.
