BLE Radar vs Rethink: DNS + Firewall + VPN
Side-by-side comparison of two open source alternatives
BLE Radar
DISCLAIMER: This project is developed solely for educational, security research, and personal investigative purposes. The author does not endorse or encourage any use of this software for unlawful or unethical activities. You are solely responsible for ensuring your use of this tool complies with all applicable laws and regulations. Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) is a widely used wireless protocol that powers a huge variety of devices around you — from headphones, smartwatches, and fitness trackers to AirTags, IoT devices, game controllers, and even modern intimate gadgets. BLE devices communicate by broadcasting small packets of data, which can include device identifiers, metadata, and other information necessary for connectivity. These broadcasts, while essential for device functionality, can also be used to track your presence and movements. For example, a cheap pair of wireless headphones may expose a persistent identifier publicly. Anyone listening to BLE packets nearby — whether governments, companies, or malicious actors — could potentially use that information to track you without your consent. Fortunately, many modern devices implement privacy features in BLE to prevent tracking, such as randomized addresses and limited advertising. BLE Radar helps you distinguish between devices that protect your privacy and those that might be trackable. By analyzing BLE traffic in your surroundings, the app gives you insight into which devices are safe to use. Beyond analysis, BLE Radar can help protect you in real-time. The app can alert you when a suspicious device is nearby or if a device is moving with you over time, giving you an early warning against potential stalking or unwanted tracking. You can configure alerts based on device identifiers, types, or behaviors to fit your security needs. By making this app, the goal is to empower you with knowledge and control over the BLE devices in your environment. Understanding which devices are broadcasting trackable information and which are privacy-conscious allows you to make informed decisions about what you use, wear, and interact with daily. In general, the app is capable: * Scan, analyze and track Bluetooth devices around; * Create flexible filters for the radar; * Deep analysis of the scanned BLE devices, getting data from the available GATT services; * Gatt services Explorer; * Define the device type by metadata; * Define approximate distance to the device. Bluetooth Radar does not collect or send your personal or geolocation data. The project is fully opensource and available on GitHub.
Rethink: DNS + Firewall + VPN
Say hello to a safer, transparent, and secure Android. VPN: Connects to multiple WireGuard VPNs of your choice. Safe: Reveals network activity of installed apps and lets you disable, uninstall, or firewall them. Secure: First line of defense against spyware, ransomware, and malware that steal personal information and takeover accounts. Protects from DNS manipulation typically employed to censor websites, social media, and messaging apps. Fast: DNS Servers deployed to 300+ locations world-wide to ensure your internet is as fast and highly available as it can be. Open: Open source and free of any trackers. ***Features*** Firewall: Prevent apps from connecting to the Internet. Block spyware, malware, ransomware and more. A firewall blocks any app connecting to the Internet over WiFi or Mobile data. Since most forms of surveillance require the data to be sent the network to a server, firewalling them effectively mitigates the threat (File Managers, Alarm Clock, Calculator are few such examples of apps that do not require any Internet access to function). The firewall feature uses Accessibility Service to detect and firewall background applications. Monitoring: Keep tabs on incoming and outgoing Internet traffic. If enabled, the connectivity logs are collected and analyzed. Automated reports flag previously unknown or suspicious connections, and reveal the extent of attempt to steal data by spyware networks. In our tests, around 60% of the traffic is flagged and reported as being initiated by known spyware. Logs generated are made available in near-real time to the user for their own analysis. WireGuard: Secure outgoing Internet traffic. The app uses fast, modern, light-weight, and secure WireGuard protocol to encrypt outgoing connections to any compatible VPN provider of your choice. Anti-censorship: The app encrypts your internet connection to Domain Name System (DNS) server run by Rethink with presence in our 300+ locations world-wide. DNS servers are the address book of the internet: A DNS server provides the exact addresses you need to visit a website or open an app. Data Monitor: Track per-app and per-connection Mobile or WiFi data usage.
| Feature | BLE Radar | Rethink: DNS + Firewall + VPN |
|---|---|---|
| License | GPL-3.0-only | Apache-2.0 |
| Install sources | F-DroidGitHubIzzyOnDroid | F-DroidGitHub |
| Categories | Password ManagerMessaging | Password ManagerVPNFirewallDev ToolsMessagingBrowser |
| Features | Ad-FreeOpen SourceNo Tracking | Ad-FreeOpen SourceNo Tracking |
| Platforms | Android | Android |
| Website | ||
| Source code |