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Getting Started
This page covers installing TrackerDetector, granting permissions, and the first run.
TrackerDetector is a standard Android app (minSdk 26 / Android 8.0; targetSdk 36). Build it from source:
git clone https://github.com/AlsatianConsulting/TrackerDetector.git
cd TrackerDetector
./gradlew :app:assembleDebug
adb install -r app/build/outputs/apk/debug/app-debug.apk
adb shell am start -n dev.alsatianconsulting.trackerdetector/.MainActivityOr open the project in Android Studio and press Run. For a signed release build (APK + AAB), see the README section "Build a signed release."
The app asks for the permissions it needs and explains each one on a dedicated page before the system prompt appears. Grant them all for full detection coverage:
| Permission | Why it is needed |
|---|---|
| Precise & approximate location | GPS is used for movement checks, map correlation, and to attach location to alerts. Bluetooth/Wi-Fi scanning also requires location access on Android. |
| Background location ("Allow all the time") | Lets scanning continue while the screen is off. On Android 11+ this is a separate grant made after precise location. |
| Nearby Wi-Fi devices | Passive Wi-Fi access-point scanning (Android 13+ separates this from legacy Wi-Fi permissions). |
| Bluetooth scan & connect | Passive BLE advertisement scanning for tracker detection. |
| Notifications | The foreground-service notification and alert notifications. |
The app also requests an ignore-battery-optimization exemption during setup so the OS does not suspend scanning in the background. This is optional but strongly recommended for continuous monitoring.
If you skip a permission, the related detection simply will not run until you grant it in Android Settings → Apps → TrackerDetector → Permissions.
- Install and open the app.
- Work through the permission explanation pages and grant each permission when prompted.
- Allow the battery-optimization exemption.
- The app opens on the Status screen and scanning starts automatically.
- Watch the severity tiles (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Cellular, GPS). Tap any tile to see active alerts for that domain.
- (Optional) Open Settings to tune rules, add device lists, import an OpenCellID
.csv.gzfile for offline cellular reference, or enable boot-start.
For the first several ordinary days, run the app in places you already know. This teaches you what is normal near your home, work, and routes. Once you have that baseline, unusual repeated alerts stand out clearly and low-severity alerts become meaningful. See Use Cases for role-based routines.
- Learn the interface: Screens & Layouts
- Understand what alerts mean: Alerts Reference
- Tune sensitivity: Settings Reference and Rules & Severity