Phones are the strongest tool most of us carry. They are also the easiest way for someone else to track us. Anyone doing real community work already knows that your digital footprint can follow you everywhere. What most people do not realize is that software protections are no longer enough. The threats are not just government agencies. Non state actors are now using cheap surveillance tools, location scrapers, Bluetooth trackers, fake access points, and plug in data skimmers the same way people used to use lock picks.
This is why we are partnering with SLNT. Their work in physical signal blocking is one of the cleanest ways to cut the cord between your device and anyone trying to watch you. Their explanation is simple. Software can fail. You can forget to turn something off. A permissions update can re enable tracking. A Faraday bag blocks the signal at the physical level and makes your device invisible until you decide to bring it back online.
What a Faraday Bag Actually Does
A Faraday bag is a layered, shielded enclosure. When you place your phone, key fob, or tablet inside, it blocks incoming and outgoing radio signals. That includes:
- Cellular
- WiFi
- Bluetooth
- GPS
- RFID and NFC
- Any attempt to ping or wake your device
This is not hacking. This is not some secret tech. It is physics. If the signal cannot reach the device, the device cannot betray you.
The SLNT guide breaks this down clearly. Physical signal blocking is a separate layer that sits on top of your normal digital security. It is not a replacement for good digital hygiene. It is the part that keeps working even when an app update resets your settings or a service decides to switch something on without warning.
Why Community Organizers Should Care
If you organize in any capacity, you already know how fast information spreads. You also know how easily people misuse technology. A device broadcasting location data can compromise:
- Meeting spots
- Mutual aid drops
- Community defense trainings
- Survivor safe houses
- Sensitive conversations
- Movement leaders
A Faraday bag ensures that even if your phone is in your pocket, it is not giving away your position or metadata. You choose when your device connects again. That control matters. It keeps people safe.
Why Community Defense Needs Them
People who train for community defense love talking gear. We talk holsters, belts, optics, ammo. But digital security is as real as physical security. If someone can track you, they do not need to confront you. They can learn your routines, map your team, and pull information from passive signals.
More non state actors are experimenting with malicious digital tools. Pings. Scanners. Trackers planted in cars. Captured WiFi traffic. Scraped Bluetooth IDs. It is not science fiction. It is already happening in the private sector and trickling down to the street.
This is why our own staff now use Faraday bags at range days and whenever we do on the ground organizing work. Phones stay physically blocked until the job is done. No accidental leaks. No surprise pings. No background processes giving away information that we never agreed to share.
Why We Chose SLNT
SLNT’s products are tested, simple, and built for real people. They break down the science in a way anyone can understand. Their work aligns with the mission of Arm Your Friends. Tools that protect people. Tools that give our communities more control over their own safety. Tools that do not depend on corporate promises or software settings that change overnight.
The Takeaway
If you care about community safety, you cannot ignore your digital signature. A Faraday bag is not paranoia. It is preparation. It is a low cost, high impact tool that removes one of the easiest avenues for surveillance and data harvesting.
Community defense is not only about equipment. It is about protecting each other at every level. Faraday bags are part of that work. And we are proud to partner with SLNT to bring that capability to our community.
If you want to stay ready, stay private, and stay safe, start here.