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It Looks Like a School Vape Detector. A Teen Hacker Showed It Could Become an Audio Bug


The Halo 3C is a vape detector installed in schools and public housing. A young hacker found it contains microphones and that it can be turned into an audio bug, raising privacy concerns.

After a closer look and some googling, Garcia figured out that a company by that name was a subsidiary of Motorola, and the devices he’d found in his school seemed to be something called the Halo 3C, a “smart” smoke and vape detection gadget. As he read more, he was intrigued to learn that the Halo 3C goes beyond detecting smoke and vaping—including a distinct feature for discerning THC vaping in particular. It also has a microphone for listening out for “aggression,” gunshots, and keywords such as someone calling for help, a feature that to Vasquez-Garcia immediately raised concerns of more intrusive surveillance.

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