In today’s strange world, you may encounter the need to scan for wireless signals, such as Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. Here is a simple little scenario, that might apply. The local media has reported that several local gas stations fell victim to credit card skimmers. A skimmer is simply a device that is either connected to or concealed within a credit card scanner such as one found at a gas pump or at a cash register in a store.

You are getting ready to fill up your gas tank and you recall reading that story. You pull out your cell phone and decide to scan the pump for random Bluetooth signals. here are some of those apps and my findings on using them and how well they detect the signals.

Bluetooth Scanning
Bluetooth Scanner – Bluetooth finder – pairing (from Zoltán Pallagi)

The Bluetooth Scanner – Bluetooth finder does exactly as advertised, it scans for Bluetooth devices and displays their MAC (hardware address) on the screen. It has a signal strength meter to help you locate the device in question. And if you want to figure out what type of device it is look up the device in the MAC address database and if all goes well, you will know exactly what you are looking for.

I just wish Google would fix their search algorithms so people would stop using such silly ass spammy titles like ” Bluetooth Scanner – Bluetooth finder – pairing” and we can get back to the fun and cool names for products like “The Zoltán Scanner” or ” WonderTech Detectify”. But in order to be found with their current search algorithm you need to use stupid spammy titles for your product name)

Next up was Bluetooth Finder – BLE Scanner (by Manjul Saini) which was very similar to the previous app, except it didn’t offer to help you figure out what type of device it was that you were looking for. I personally use the previous app all the time and it’s wi-fi sister app. Plus it works great at the gas station to check to see if there is a skimmer installed on the pump.

Next came nRF Connect for Mobile (by Nordic Semiconductor ASA), which worked as advertised, but I found it just a little too complex for the function it is performing.

My recommendation is the very first app, the Bluetooth Scanner – Bluetooth finder – pairing from Zoltán Pallagi for quickly finding Bluetooth at the pump

Electromagnetic Scanning
Next up was electromagnetic scanning and there is only one app on the market that outperforms all the other apps on the market and that is hands down the Physics Toolbox Sensor Suite (by Vieyra Software). This is also the app that I used to detect the magnetic field around my Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine injection site.

Next up is Wireless scanning and that is where I found four solid apps in a row

Wi-Fi Scanning
WiFi Analyzer by olgor.com does what it says it does, I keep this one installed on my phone.

Wifi Analyzer by farproc This one is very similar to the first one by olgor.com. 

Network Signal Info by KAIBITS Software GmbH

WiFi Analyzer by Zoltán Pallagi. This is my go-to wireless detection app.

All four apps did exactly as they advertised and exactly as I had expected. It really comes down to features at this point.
In conclusion: Best of luck if you are going to look for a hidden camera, there really isn’t an app for that, that actually works. Next, I will try some commercial products, stand by