What is NearTrace? ​
S01E01 — "In which we explain why you need to know what's around you."
TL;DR NearTrace is a passive Bluetooth Low Energy + Wi-Fi scanner for Android. It sees every radio broadcasting near you, maps where you saw it, and lets you track specific devices so you know when they go missing. Nothing leaves your phone unless you tell it to.
The one-sentence pitch ​
Every device around you is screaming its presence into the air. NearTrace listens.
Your AirPods, your neighbour's router, the AirTag someone slipped in your bag, the laptop two seats away on the train — they're all advertising. Most people can't hear them. NearTrace can.
What NearTrace is for ​
- Finding lost gear — left your camera, drone, or earbuds somewhere? Pin it in NearTrace and get an alert the moment it drops out of range.
- Knowing your radio environment — see what's around you on a hotel, café, or conference network.
- Anti-stalking — detect devices that keep following you across locations. Generate an evidence report.
- Privacy hygiene — understand what your own devices broadcast to anyone nearby.
What NearTrace is NOT ​
NearTrace does not connect to devices without your permission. It does not write to other devices. It does not do anything your phone isn't already allowed to do passively. It's an observer, not an attacker.