Simon is a Computer Science BSc graduate who has been writing about technology since 2014, and using Windows machines since 3.1. After working for an indie game studio and acting as the family's go-to technician for all computer issues, he found his passion for writing and decided to use his skill set to write about all things tech.
Since beginning his writing career, he has written for many different publications such as WorldStart, Listverse, and MakeTechEasier. However, after finding his home at MakeUseOf in February 2019, he would eventually move on to its sister site, XDA, to bring the latest and greatest in Windows, Linux, and DIY electronics.
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Summary
- SquachWatch turns an ESP32 CYD into a standalone WiFi/Bluetooth scanner for trackers.
- Detects Flock cameras, body cams, recording glasses, AirTags, drones, skimmers, and more.
- Runs standalone on USB, listens on 2.4GHz, and shares alerts via SquachMesh signals.
With the rise of both Flock cameras and glasses that can record people, it has been a nightmare for the privacy-minded to get around in confidence. Fortunately, there are projects out there that can help you scan and identify when something might be monitoring you, and SquachWatch is definitely one of the cuter ones out there.
SquachWatch keeps an eye out for anything that might be spying on you
It can spot more than just Flock cameras
As spotted by our sister website MakeUseOf, SquachWatch turns your ESP32 Cheap Yellow Display (CYD) into a miniature scanner. It keeps an eye on the perimeter and lets you know whenever it identifies anything that may be a threat to your privacy. It does so while using these really cute Sasquatch-based mascots that chat to you and do little animations, which is always a plus.
Here's how its creator describes it:
SquachWatch-CYD sniffs WiFi and Bluetooth for known wireless signatures of Flock Safety cameras, Axon body cameras, recording glasses, card skimmers, AirTags, drones, proximity beacons and pentest hardware. On the 2.8" CYD it listens on 2.4 GHz and runs standalone on the bare board — no PC, no extras, just plug it into USB.
There's even a cool feature called "SquachMesh" which allows other people running SquachWatch to send messages, warnings, and update notifications to your board. If any of the connected boards identify a device you'd rather not be seen by, they can warn you via this feature. Everything is sent out as a signal, rather than as a connection, meaning you don't need to directly connect to other boards to get their updates.
If you'd like to read more, head over to the SquachWatch GitHub page or flash it on your board via the website. You can also try out the online demo and feed it example data to see how it works.