ZuckOff bluetooth app detects nearby camera smart glasses
Developer Paweł Szydłowski creates ZuckOff, a bluetooth app that detects nearby camera-equipped glasses like Ray-Ban Meta and Snap Spectacles.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- ZuckOff is a bluetooth-based app that detects nearby camera-equipped smart glasses.
- The app displays confidence levels, estimated distance, and specific manufacturer data.
- Users can review sightings timelines and export complete bluetooth logs to CSV.
As cameras and sensors are increasingly disguised as ordinary eyewear, identifying these wearable devices has become a significant challenge. To address this issue, Polish developer Paweł Szydłowski has created ZuckOff, an independent application designed to intercept and interpret bluetooth advertisements from nearby smart glasses, making hidden recording devices more visible on phones, watches, or computers.
The app listens for wireless signals emitted by hardware such as Ray-Ban Meta, Oakley Meta, and Snap Spectacles. Instead of issuing vague warnings, ZuckOff assigns specific confidence levels including possible, likely, and strong. When a Ray-Ban Meta device is detected, the interface reveals technical details such as the manufacturer ID, advertised services, signal strength, and approximate distance to help users interpret the wireless environment.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
ZuckOff features a Sightings interface that maintains a comprehensive log of every bluetooth device detected nearby. Users can track individual hardware through a signal timeline to monitor when devices appear and how their signal strength fluctuates. Furthermore, owners of compatible smart glasses can mark their own devices to bypass repetitive alert notifications.
The introduction of apps like ZuckOff highlights the growing tension between personal privacy and ubiquitous wearable technology. As smart glasses become visually indistinguishable from standard fashion accessories, passive bystanders lose the ability to provide informed consent. Tools that decode wireless advertisements represent a grassroots approach to digital transparency in densely connected public spaces.
Despite its utility, the app has inherent limitations. Bluetooth advertising indicates proximity and presence rather than directional heading or active camera usage. Smart glasses are most easily detected when powering on, pairing, or leaving their charging case, though most continue broadcasting during wear. Some standalone models may remain silent, meaning a lack of detection does not guarantee the absence of camera glasses nearby.
ZuckOff operates without requiring a user account and allows complete bluetooth log exports in CSV format. The development team is actively collecting new device captures and welcomes hardware loans or collaborations with privacy groups to expand its detection capabilities as new smart eyewear enters the market.
Source: designboom
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