Tag, You’re It: Physical Tracking Tech, Defense, and How to DIY Your Own by Eddie Miro

Abstract

We live in an era where our location data is constantly harvested, but what happens when the tracking becomes physical? From the clandestine beacons of the Cold War to the consumer-grade AirTags tucked into backpacks today, physical tracking technology has become incredibly cheap, accessible, and pervasive.

In this talk, we will trace the evolution of physical tracking tech, analyze how modern implementations exploit wireless protocols like BLE, cellular, and GPS, and discuss practical defense strategies to detect and neutralize unwanted eyes.

Finally, we will demystify the threat by turning the tables: demonstrating how to build and deploy a fully functional, budget-friendly tracking beacon using off-the-shelf DIY hardware.

Attendees will leave with a deep understanding of the tracking landscape and the knowledge required to both defend against and build these systems.

Speaker

Eddie Miro

Operations Manager - HackerHaus Security Solutions

Cybersecurity Professional & Creator | Community Builder | Speaker I build communities, break into systems (legally), and share what I learn along the way. With over a decade of deep involvement in the hacker community, my work spans public speaking, content creation, and technical contributions. Key Highlights: Speaking & Community: Featured speaker at 30+ conferences (including DEF CON 27 SE Village) and dedicated volunteer at 25+ events. Former DEF CON Goon. Media & Content: Hosted Simply Social Engineering, guest on 20+ podcasts, and published writer in 2600 Magazine. Projects & Ventures: Founder of Octopus Game. Contributor to Black Hills Information Security's Backdoors & Breaches. Always building and still punk. Let’s connect.

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