Phone Monitoring

[xud]

Hi all,
Does anyone know if there is a way to monitor a mobile without having access to the phone itself.

I want to see what my son is getting up to.
Now, I know there is software such as SPYFONE available but I would need access to the phone. Also, I have read the reviews and it does not make good reading.

Some of the reviews give the email addresses of hackers that can allegedly do it remotely.

Has anyone had any experience of this.

Rgds
Michael

[ummmm]

He just wants to know where his child is. We know nothing as to why.

[sunny-dave]

It's actually a very useful feature - not just for kids, but adults too.

Gness and I have all our Apple phones/pads etc in a group - this meant that when she had a car malfunction and called me, I was able to get a very accurate fix on her location, despite her not quite knowing how to direct me there.

[ummmm]

Exactly, Dave.

Anyone who has ever been lost or in a dodgy situation would be really grateful for it.

[Prudie]

This is a bit like the modern equivalent of reading one's child's diary. It does depend on your motivation and there is certainly some online dangers you'd want to protect them from. I think it depends on their age and what you plan to do if you discover something that causes you alarm. Probably better to tell him what you're planning, that in itself will protect him to some extent.

[dannyk13]

Dave & ummmm, the difference is, that in the son's case, he will be unaware that his phone is being monitored.

[ummmm]

It's nothing like reading someones mail. Mail is private, as is text messages and email. Location isn't.

[sunny-dave]

Not true Danny - any kid with an iPhone knows that the App exists - and can disable it in seconds.

It would need to be an explicit agreement between the parent and child that the App was left on at all times as a condition of having the (very nice) phone.

[andy-hughes]

ummmm - // Mail is private, as is text messages and email. Location isn't. //

That depends where you are, and why.

If I want to go to a jewelers in another city to buy my wife a surprise present, I am not going to be impressed if she knows, and I don't know she knows, that way lies serious trouble!

[Prudie]

So is this solely about location then?

[andy-hughes]

Prudie - // So is this solely about location then? //

That's an assumption that some on here have made - there is nothing in the OP that says that, only that this father wants to 'see what his son is getting up to'.

Make of that what you will.

[Barmaid]

The OP asked about software. He wasn't seeking moral judgement.

[ABSpareEditor]

Barmaid is correct. Please try to give Technology answers to Technology questions.

[ummmm]

Yes, Prudie, you can't access anything but location. The OP could be asking because he doesn't want his child going into dodgy areas.

My rule when my kids were young was they answered the phone whenever I rang. If they didn't I'd take the phone away. As adults they still answer whenever I ring.

[Prudie]

Well if it's just location then I know it's possible but can't tell you what it is. Just know a guy at work who is very tech savvy was caught out by his wife watching his whereabouts with his lover and he had no idea (via something on his phone).

[woofgang]

If you can get access to the phone then I understand there are quite a few options that you can hide on the phone although I am not sure how many work in Apple stuff and how well hidden they are...I think they are well hidden enough that if you don't search you won't see them but if you check stuff like data use or memory use then anomalies will show up. Sorry I can't help more, I have never used them myself but did some theoretical research a while ago.