How to Monitor Cell Phone Text Messages
You've probably seen hundreds of websites advertising software that lets you monitor anyone's cell-phone calls or text messages for a price. The software itself is perfectly legal—that is, if you do not use it to circumvent the law, or track someone without their consent.
Just as there is parental monitoring software to keep track of your child's Internet activities, similar software is available to monitor your child's cell-phone use. As of October 2010, however, most of these programs will work only with expensive Smartphones. There's still the old-fashioned way, too: Simply read your child's phone logs and text messages on the phone itself.
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Instructions
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Study your federal and state telecommunications laws to ensure your intended use of the software is, in fact, legal. As examples, parents may legally install mobile-monitoring software to find out who is calling/texting their kids and also use GPS trackers to locate their children. Couples may agree to install tracking software on each others' phones to always know where the other one is, or even to assure their partner that they are staying faithful.
As a general rule of thumb, however, it is illegal to spy on anyone's phone (cell or land-line) without their knowledge and consent.
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Investigate the various cell-phone monitoring software programs available on the market. Be prepared to pay either a one-time price for the software package or a monthly fee (usually around $10-$15 per month, depending on the features you want).
A few popular choices are Disney Mobile for parents of young children, Verizon's Family Locator and the Radar program, for which you can sign up at MyMobileWatchdog.com. See References and Resources for more information.
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Sign up for the service of your choice, set up your secure log-in and password, then download the software via wireless to a compatible cell phone.
In this tutorial, we will be using the Radar service, but you'll find the basic functions of all cell-phone monitoring software are essentially alike, regardless of which one you ultimately choose.
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Log in to the Radar system and set up your child's "approved" friends and family call list. Once this is done, you can log back in to the site anytime to see a record of all incoming/outgoing calls, texts, picture and video messages that are sent to your child's cell phone.
If anyone who is not on the "approved" list calls or texts your child's phone, Radar quickly sends an alert to you on your cell phone.
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Inform your kids that their cell-phone use is being monitored. It is better for them to know in advance than to be surprised by a confrontation later. They will feel as if their privacy has been invaded and that you are "snooping" on them. Even if you have every legal right to do so, not telling them can create trust issues, hurt feelings and tension between you, because eventually they will find out.
"Kids' privacy rights are, by custom and tradition, like respecting closed doors and journals," warns Marc Rotenberg, executive director of the Electronic Privacy Information Center. "Constant surveillance of your kids, or secret surveillance of your kids, may not be the best way to build trust, and that's something parents need to consider."
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Tips & Warnings
Most cell-phone monitoring software only runs on newer, more sophisticated phones. It will not work unless your child has a Blackberry, iPhone, G1, Android, Windows Mobile, Symbian OS or similar phone. Check with the software manufacturer before you buy to make sure it will be compatible with your child's mobile-phone model.
With the exception of parents monitoring their minor child's cell phone, it is illegal to spy on or track another person's phone unless you have that person's explicit permission to do so. You do not want to run afoul of federal eavesdropping and wiretapping laws.
References
Resources
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