SignalTrace can link device signals to your car
You should also review how much location history your apps and accounts retain. That information is separate from SignalTrace collection, but Chatrie demonstrates how valuable stored location histories can become during an investigation. Finally, pay attention to what your local police department says about automated license plate readers. Look for policies covering retention, data sharing and investigative access. If electronic signal sensors become part of those systems, the rules governing them deserve the same scrutiny.
Kurt’s key takeaways
What stands out to me is how quickly the definition of identification is changing. A sensor may never learn your name when you drive past. Yet software can build a pattern around the devices you carry, and investigators can compare that pattern with information from other sources. Leonardo makes an important distinction here. The company says SignalTrace itself does not identify people and its data should be viewed as an investigative lead, not proof. I think that distinction matters. The real privacy question becomes what happens after that lead is created and how much corroboration investigators require before connecting it to a person. I understand why police would want technology that helps find a stolen vehicle or develop a lead in a serious case. These tools can have legitimate public-safety uses. But proximity deserves caution. Being near someone isn’t the same as knowing that person. Traveling with someone does not establish what either person was doing. The bigger question is how much inference we are willing to let technology make before stronger legal protections kick in.
Would you be comfortable with police using electronic signatures from your devices to develop leads about your movements and associations, or should that kind of tracking require a warrant? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com
Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy Report
- Get my best tech tips, urgent security alerts and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox.
- For simple, real-world ways to spot scams early and stay protected, visit CyberGuy.com – trusted by millions who watch CyberGuy on TV daily.
- Plus, you’ll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide free when you join.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Copyright 2026 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.
Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News FOX Business beginning mornings on “FOX Friends.” Got a tech question? Get Kurt’s free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.
Article source: https://www.foxnews.com/science/signaltrace-link-device-signals-car