There are various intricacies when entering the world of car ownership, and from the word go, you are told about things you simply cannot do without. You cannot drive off the dealer floor without insurance ; you cannot risk not having a maintenance plan for future occurrences; and the most infamous, a GPS is vital in " preventing " theft of your vehicle. But is it?

In a study conducted by a prominent cybersecurity company called Gazer, they are actually debunking a few myths about GPS trackers, saying that maybe they aren't as safe as you thought they were. So let us take a deep dive into noting what some common myths are and what a GPS tracker actually grants the owner of a vehicle. 

Myth 1: ‘GPS trackers can’t be disabled’

GPS Trackers are designed and meant to track a vehicle, not prevent theft like say an alarm would go off or a lock with prevent access into the vehicle okay? Thieves routinely use signal jamming devices – commonly called jammers – that block GPS frequencies and cellular connections. These portable devices are inexpensive and require no special expertise to operate.

Myth 2: ‘The GPS tracker is securely hidden; it will take time for thieves to find it’

Even though there is a safe and secure method that most tracking companies adhere to whenever they install the device in to your car like, chasing you away so that you don't see where exactly they put the chip. This effort is simply not good enough as professional thieves know the common hiding spots for GPS trackers. Even if you are confident in the secrecy of the hiding place, it does not save the situation. Radio frequency scanners and non-linear junction detectors, widely available tools by the way, can detect even well-hidden trackers by identifying their radio signals.

Myth 3: ‘The GPS tracker signal is available anywhere the car might be taken’

By now you would have seen those armed response videos where the responders find the cars in dingy, shacks and often time far rural places which is because like any device, the GPS have a weakness in signal which can be easily manipulated or blocked using a variety of materials like Faraday cages or metal trailers designed specifically to prevent signal transmission, making tracking impossible.

Myth 4: ‘Signal blocking devices are only for professional thieves, and there are few of them’

Are you familiar with the term "I know a guy" well probably a theft somewhere out there does, GPS jamming devices cost as little as a few dozen dollars or rands in our context and are readily available online. They’ve become standard equipment even for amateur thieves. As security technology evolves, so do theft methods – making vehicles protected only by GPS trackers easy targets.

Myth 5: ‘A GPS tracker will help the insurance company investigate the crime and fully compensate for losses’

This is partially true because remember GPS trackers can help locate stolen vehicles and they are often either included or encourage by your insurance. But by the time a car is recovered if they haven't been disabled the tracker, it may be severely damaged, stripped for parts, or moved across international borders. Insurance companies typically pay based on depreciated value, not original purchase price, meaning owners rarely recover their full investment. And because investigations take time, simply knowing a vehicle's location doesn't guarantee a positive outcome.

Gazer’s cybersecurity experts emphasize: GPS trackers don’t prevent theft – they only help locate vehicles after the crime has occurred. Effective security stops thieves before they gain access. Comprehensive cyber-defense systems use multiple layers of protection: owner authorization radio tags, relay blockers, and verification methods like interior button combinations. While modern security systems include tracking capabilities, they also actively prevent hacking attempts – something GPS trackers cannot do.

Don’t wait until your GPS tracker goes offline or leads you to a stripped vehicle. Ask your dealership about comprehensive security systems that actually prevent theft. If a dealership manager continues pushing GPS trackers as theft prevention, consider it a red flag. Demand real protection – complex cyber-defense systems that stop thieves before they can act.