Modern life essentially requires us to give up data and privacy for everyday activities, from social media use to airport travel (i.e. biometric-based services like Clear and TSA Precheck). These practices extend to our vehicles and, in some cases, our private conversations. As the risk of hacks and data breaches continues, many people are looking for ways to not only reduce data breaches, but also protect themselves from harmful exposures.

Some of the most tempting and easiest ways to go off the grid include GPS jammers and audio or voice protection systems, sometimes called voice cell phone jammer. When you consider these different counter-surveillance devices, it is important to recognize their differences, especially when it comes to legality. gps jammer are illegal devices, while audio jammers are legal and ethical, but their names are inaccurate because they serve completely different functions than their highly illegal counterparts.

GPS Jammer:

GPS jammers were originally designed for government use to hide the location of combat vehicles during high-risk missions. Essentially, a GPS jammer is a small device used to hide your whereabouts from GPS tracking devices that are monitoring your location and activities. GPS jammers emit radio signals on the same frequency as the GPS device, and due to the interference, the GPS tracker cannot determine the location of your vehicle.

They're cheap, easy to conceal, and offer instant protection - GPS jammers seem like a no-brainer. However, their use is prohibited by law, and they can actually be dangerous.

Audio Jammer:

Audio jammers serve a similar purpose to GPS jammers, but in a different way. They are small devices that produce a unique sound to protect confidential conversations from external listening devices. Randomly masking sounds desensitizes microphones in that area, essentially rendering them useless. This extends to many types of microphones and eavesdropping devices, including voice recorders, radio frequency transmitters, hardwired microphones and shotgun microphones. The main goal is to ensure that private conversations remain private, even if the eavesdropper is only a few feet away.