Several scanner apps for the iPhone promise to detect smart glasses in the immediate vicinity and thus protect against covert surveillance. However, anyone hoping these tools will reliably warn them of unnoticed recordings is lulled into a false sense of security: the software is technically incapable of detecting active camera recordings.
Four scanner apps in the App Store
At the center of the issue are four apps: AntiZuck, Spectre, Spex, and Smart Glass Finder. These programs aim to locate so-called smart glasses nearby. September saw the release of version 1.0 of both Spex and Smart Glass Finder, as well as version 2.5 of Spectre, developed by 6tSevn BV. Spectre includes a list of 19 recognized brands to identify relevant glasses.
Limitations in the fine print
That these apps cannot protect users from spying only becomes clear in the detailed descriptions on Apple’s distribution platform. Spex’s App Store listing explicitly points out that the software can detect neither recordings nor live streams. An almost identical disclaimer can be found for Smart Glass Finder, which explicitly states that camera recording cannot technically be detected.
Consequently, the apps at best register the presence of compatible hardware, but provide no information on whether the detected glasses’ sensors and cameras are currently taking photos, recording videos, or transmitting data.
High system requirements
Differences also emerge regarding technical requirements. Apple requires at least iOS 18 to install AntiZuck and Spex. The Smart Glass Finder app even requires at least iOS 18.2. In the case of Spectre, the App Store lists iOS 26 as a requirement.
For consumers and privacy advocates, this means: So-called glasses detectors offer no protection against unwanted video or photo recordings. Since the apps’ fine print already qualifies their practical protective effect, users should under no circumstances rely on a warning signal regarding camera activity.
Sources: Borncity.com
