'5GBioShield' cited in council's 5G report described as 'nothing more than a £5 USB key with a sticker on'
The USB device and Shungite have been claimed to protect people from 5G despite no scientific evidence proof
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A 5GBioShield which was claimed could protect humans from 'harmful' 5G technology in a council investigation has been described as a fake by IT experts.
Full Fact, a fact-checking organisation, has outright debunked anti-5G theories, stating "there is no evidence that 5G can harm humans or their immune systems."
Despite this, a report published by Glastonbury Town Council's 5G Advisory Committee as part of an investigation includes pages warning people to protect themselves from 5G - by buying expensive USB devices to 'protect home and family'.
The war of words follows anti-lockdown and anti-5G protests in Glastonbury in recent weeks, as well as a national backdrop of 5G sceptics burning communication towers.
One committee member, Toby R Hall, advised people carry a "helpful" 5G Bioshield - a USB stick which was claimed could "provide protection for your home and family" due to its "wearable holographic nano-layer catalyser."
The device, which reportedly is backed up by "research of several decades in multiple countries", is currently on sale for £283 while a pack of three is £795 on 5GBioShield's website.
The claims about the 5GBioShield device which reportedly protects people from 'harmful' 5G technology. These claims have been widely debunked (Image: 5GBioShield)
The website states the 5GBioShield is "a full spectrum protection from all harmful ionised and non-ionised radiation" which "harmonises all harmful frequencies into life-affirming frequencies."
Pen Test Partners, an IT company which identifies security flaws within electronic products, purchased three 5GBioShield devices to investigate the company's claims and assess its functionality.
The investigation, carried out by Ken Munro and his colleague Phil Eveleigh, saw how the device arrives inside a branded purple bag.
Writing their thoughts in a blog post, Mr Eveleigh said: "It's undoubtedly an interesting looking USB key, with an engraved 'crystal' holder and a circle on the metal unit.
"The engraved image appears only as a banner image on their website, we couldn't find in any other of their marketing materials. We think it was probably made by Shenzen Tushi Technology Co. Ltd in China."
The 5GBioShield device is delivered inside a branded purple bag. (Image: Pen Test Partners)
The blog post continues to investigate what is inside the USB device, discovering it is a 128MB stick which contains a 25-page PDF version of material from 5GBioShield's website.
The document informs customers how to know if the device works and states it's an "always on" system, implying it is always working, powered or not.
After pulling the device off the crystal, it showed nothing other than an LED light on the circuit board, similar to those on any other USB key.
A closer look at the device suggests it "appeared to be an average USB key" and an area on the main casing where the "quantum holographic catalyzer technology" transmitter could be was in fact covered with a sticker.
Upon dissecting the 5GBioShield, the blog described: "The circular area on the main casing looked like it might be where the 'quantum holographic catalyzer technology' transmitter might be. Carefully taking that off, not to damage the key components and, with crushing disappointment, it looked exactly like a regular sticker." (Image: Pen Test Partners)
The damning blog post ends with: "In our opinion, the 5G Bioshield is nothing more than a £5 USB key with a sticker on it.
"Whether or not the sticker provides £300 pounds worth of quantum holographic catalyzer technology we'll leave you to decide.
"We do not believe this product should be promoted by publicly-funded bodies until a full, independent, peer-reviewed scientific study has been undertaken on its effectiveness. We think trading standards bodies should investigate this product."
The BBC reports that London Trading Standards has launched an investigation into the device.
In response to Pen Test Partner's claims, the BBC spoke to a director of BioShield Distribution, Anna Grochowalska.
The formal recommendations made by committee
After a six-month investigation, Glastonbury Town Council adopted the recommendations from the 5G Advisory Committee:
Write to MPs asking them to establish an inquiry into the safety of 5G;
Call for UK Government and Public Health England to undertake an independent scientific study into the non-thermal effects of 5G and Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity
Lobbying the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) to take into account the non-thermal effects of radiofrequency EMFs in their Guidelines on Limiting Exposure to Electromagnetic Fields
Ms Grochowalska said that while her company was the sole global distributor of the 5GBioShield, it did not manufacture or own the product.
"We are in possession of a great deal of technical information, with plenty of back-up historical research," she said.
"As you can understand, we are not authorised to fully disclose all this sensitive information to third parties, for obvious reasons."
She disagreed with the suggestion selling a £5 product for more than £300 was unreasonable.
"In regard to the costs analysis your research has produced, I believe that the lack of in-depth information will not drive you to the exact computation of our expenses and production costs, including the cost of IP [intellectual property rights], and so on," she said.
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"It is therefore hard to take your evaluation seriously, since you have evidently not researched the background facts in any meaningful way."
Mr Hall said his remarks in the 5G Advisory Committee report should not be seen as a recommendation to buy the product.
He said he has no regrets about purchasing the device, claiming it has created a "calmer feel to the home". Mr Hall added he was able to sleep through the night.
Mr Hall continued to suggest the company might be able to develop a system that could offer protection to Glastonbury against the effects of radiation from electromagnetic fields.