If a phone is off, then it is untraceable .. regardless of it being a current smart / flip phone or from 30 years ago. It is 100% impossible to trace something that is not transmitting.
If it's been hacked, generally when I power it off, it's still off. The 'hacking' techniques that he's speaking of do not apply to the public at large and is not something easy to do. These are specific targeted users and they're hacking with specific programs for specific devices - to respond and act in a specific manner. An easy way to tell if your phone is off .. try to communicate with it (call it, connect to the hotspot and other ways). If you can't see it, then no one else can either.
Without a SIM, it can't authenticate to any towers with anything but it's IMEI, which if hacked, a hacker can and may change.
Does your car have on-stare? It to is tracing your car. Where it goes, how fast are you going, what direction your traveling. Cops can now take that the livens plate number and get your vin number and they can have on star turn you car off if your running from them. It doesn't actually turn it off, it just makes it so you can go anymore. The motor will still run so you don't lose your breaks or power staring but you can push on the gas and it wont go. I have several family members that are cops and they all say it works. Only if they have the right plate number so they can get the right vin. If you change the plate or remove it then that can't get the vin.
But on star also bulk collects your cars movements, so that can find out where your car was and when it was there and how long it was there.
They also trace you by you using your credit card, what you bought, where you bought it when you bought it. This is also bulk collected.
Does you home have a smart meter? They know everything about your power usage day and night. They are also putting smart chips in your home appliances, you refrigerator, dish washer, washing machine, dryer A/C and heating units. This is also bulk collected. They know when you turn things on and off. This is done for many reasons. Not to spy on you but to track your usage so when power starts to peak and a brown out may happen they can reduce your power usage to protect the grid. But the point is everything electronically operated is starting to be bulk tracked and stored.
Do you have an Alexia in your home? That you can simply ask it a question and it will give you the information? It's listing to every word you say all day every day. It can be hacked and someone can hear every word you say in your home and It's programed for key words to listen for. That info is also being bulk collected. The point is all the things we use everyday without thinking about them are spying or can be used to spy on you.
Wali down the street and there are cameras everywhere just watching. With facial recognition they can track you. Ever use ez tag to run toll roads? Facial recognition is being used to see your face behind the wheel.
You think this is paranoia but it real and it happening more and more all the time.
Ever see the movie, Enemy of the state? That kind of technology is closer then you think.Give it another 20 years' There are thousands of dedicated spy privet and government satellites watching and collecting data every day on everything that is traceable.
I know you gonna say your just being paranoid, but it's happening more and more every day. The day is coming when we will have no privacy at all.
Big brother is gearing up and it's only a mater of time. Red light cameras, speed trap cameras. Cops sitting on the side of the road have livens plat recognition soft wear that constantly see and run plate numbers to aid them in finding cars that may have an APB on them or the driver may have a warrant. It's coming.