Hardware Ready Ready to Bench?
detect Meta glasses with ZuckOff. ZuckOff is an application designed to detect the presence of smart glasses equipped with a camera in the vicinity. Unlike other methods that attempt visual recognition, ZuckOff analyzes Bluetooth communications emitted by compatible devices and compares the detected identifiers with a database of hardware fingerprints.
The project was born as a response to the need to discreetly identify smart glasses. Similar to the previous open-source project Nearby Glasses, ZuckOff stands out for its cross-platform approach, the assignment of a confidence level to detections, and the ability to perform scans even when the application is not actively in use.
detect Meta glasses with ZuckOff: why it matters
ZuckOff’s operation is based on Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) scanning. The app intercepts radio announcements in the surrounding area, looking for signatures associated with specific manufacturers or devices. At the time of writing this article, the database includes identifiers such as 0x0D53 for Luxottica, 0x058E for Meta Platforms Technologies wearable devices, 0x03C2 for Snap, and 0xFD5F, associated with a service registered by Oculus VR. The names advertised by devices can provide further clues, but with a lower degree of reliability.
The main difference compared to a simple list of Bluetooth devices lies in the evaluation of results. ZuckOff does not limit itself to returning a “yes” or a “no,” but associates each detection with a confidence level, preserving the evidence on which the identification is based. The app also uses signal strength to approximately estimate distance, distinguishing between situations such as arm’s reach proximity, presence in the same room, generic proximity, or greater distance. It is important to note that the radio value does not provide information about the direction of the device.
The hardware fingerprint database is constantly updated through acquisitions on real devices. The project can therefore progressively expand the number of recognizable models by adding new rules when reliable samples are collected. This approach differs from that adopted by Nearby Glasses, which demonstrated how BLE announcement analysis can provide useful indications, while leaving room for false positives and incomplete detections.
One of ZuckOff’s most interesting features is background activity management. On iPhone, the operating system imposes restrictions on applications wishing to perform continuous Bluetooth operations. The project therefore leverages service identifiers that iOS allows monitoring in background mode. Continuous background scanning does not equate to the full scan available in the main interface; for this reason, the app recommends opening it periodically to obtain a more complete list of present devices.
What changes and what are the effects
On Android, the project adopts a different approach, leveraging the greater flexibility of the operating system for background activities. Currently, ZuckOff is available for iPhone, and an Android version is undergoing closed testing. The app can generate alerts, offer a widget, and display real-time activity on the iPhone lock screen.
The complete log of detections can be exported in CSV format, while devices owned by the user can be marked to avoid unnecessary reports. It is important to consider that some glasses may transmit more intensely during startup, pairing, or removal from the case; standalone models without a phone connection may instead remain silent.
ZuckOff is a radio detection tool and cannot verify whether the smart glasses’ camera is actually recording. A detection does not prove camera activity, just as the absence of a signal does not rule out its possibility.
Source and further reading on detect Meta glasses with ZuckOff: original article.
* Content created with the assistance of artificial intelligence systems.