Latest Podcast



Featured Articles

Ofcom helps protect customers against unexpected roaming charges

Ofcom helps protect customers against unexpected roaming charges

UK service providers must notify customers when they connect to a different network

New rules from UK telecoms regulator Ofcom will protect customers when they use their mobile phone on a foreign network. In addition, customers will be alerted if they are inadvertently roaming, perhaps because they're near an international border.
Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

Global smartphone market is set for recovery, says new forecast

A new forecast from research specialists Canalys shows the smartphone market is set to recover next year. Worldwide shipments declined by 12% last year but that decline is expected to slow to 5% this year.
Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating
Vodafone and Three plan to merge their UK businesses

Vodafone and Three plan to merge their UK businesses

New Hutchison/Vodafone network would be biggest UK operator

Vodafone Group plc and CK Hutchison Group Telecom Holdings Limited have agreed to combine their UK telecommunication businesses, respectively Vodafone UK and Three UK. The merger will create a large new network operator to compete with Virgin Media O2 and EE.
Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

UK mobile payment service Paym to close in March 2023

UK mobile payment service Paym will close on 7th March 2023. The service, which allowed users to make and receive payments using their mobile phone numbers, was launched in 2014.
Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating
Qualcomm legal action moves forward in the UK

Qualcomm legal action moves forward in the UK

Which? seeks payout for Samsung and Apple smartphone owners

Consumer protection organisation Which? has been given permission by the UK's Competition Appeal Tribunal to represent Apple and Samsung smartphone buyers in a legal case against chip manufacturer Qualcomm.
Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating
RSS

Opinion Articles

Saturday, November 20, 2010

How the right mobile phone technology can turn anyone into a spy

Mark Bridge writes:

A few weeks ago I received a phone call out of the blue. It went something like this:
“I think my partner's cheating on me. How can I get into the GPS on his phone to find out where he is?”

I'm no secret agent. I wasn't comfortable giving too much information and ended up suggesting that a private detective would probably deliver evidence that was more conclusive. Nevertheless, it got me thinking.

Of course, you could enable Google Latitude on the other person's phone – or set up geo-location on their Twitter account – but all this is a bit hit and miss. What if they don't use it?

One solution is to install software on their phone. If you're able to do this – and they're using a smartphone – there are plenty of mobile phone spying techniques available. For example, Android users could be living in fear of SMS Secret Replicator from DLP Mobile. It secretly forwards incoming text messages to another phone. The program itself is hidden once it's installed, although an itemised bill will make the text trickery pretty obvious.

If you're after someone who uses an iPhone, similar software can let you browse through the phone's photos and automatically upload GPS positions every half hour. You'll need the iPhone to be jailbroken, so once again it's not all plain sailing.

And don't worry; Symbian users haven't been left out!

But why not get hold of your own mobile phone technology to find out what's going on?

You can now bug someone from miles away – even from another country – thanks to a mobile phone call. A bedside alarm clock can have a 3G video camera built in. Even an innocent mains adaptor could listen to someone's conversations.

Let's face it, a mobile phone set to 'silent' and 'auto answer' in a desk drawer may well be all the spy equipment you need.

And if not, the James Bond style of GPS tracking bug is now available for little over £100.

Just remember a couple of things. Firstly, if you're spying on someone, the moral high-ground may be a long way above you. And secondly, make sure you stay on the right side of the law. Otherwise your next phone call may be the last one you make for a long while!

 

Print
Author: The Fonecast
1 Comments
Rate this article:
No rating

1 comments on article "How the right mobile phone technology can turn anyone into a spy"

1
0
Avatar image

James Rosewell

11/24/2010 9:16 AM

I'm always amazed by the phone calls you get Mark!

Leave a comment

This form collects your name, email, IP address and content so that we can keep track of the comments placed on the website. For more info check our Privacy Policy and Terms Of Use where you will get more info on where, how and why we store your data.
Add comment

Recent Podcasts

Podcast - 17th February 2011

We're in Barcelona for the GSMA Mobile World Congress 2011. Here's our report at the beginning of the final day, with James talking about the MeeGo and webOS platforms... and Mark reporting on new products from ViewSonic and Motorola Mobility.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

Podcast - 16th February 2011

We're in Barcelona for the GSMA Mobile World Congress 2011. Here's our report at the beginning of day three, talking about personal privacy in the mobile age. Contributions come from Qualcomm, Eric Schmidt of Google and the Mobile Marketing Association.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

Podcast - 15th February 2011

We're in Barcelona for the GSMA Mobile World Congress 2011. Here's our report at the beginning of day two, covering everything from LG's 3D mobile phone and MACH's innovative roaming billing to Steve Ballmer's keynote speech.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

Podcast - 14th February 2011

We're in Barcelona for the GSMA Mobile World Congress 2011. It starts today - but Sony Ericsson, Samsung and Nokia all held press events on the previous evening. We cover the big announcements and also pay a visit to the ShowStoppers showcase.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

Podcast - 9th February 2011

This week's podcast sets the scene for Mobile World Congress, with mobile payments, mobile applications, the PlayStation Phone and Nokia's future all up for discussion. There's also an interview with Dr Windsor Holden of Juniper Research about the trends and products to watch for when the industry heads to Barcelona.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating
RSS
First5657585961636465Last

Follow thefonecast.com

Twitter @TheFonecast RSS podcast feed
Find us on Facebook Subscribe free via iTunes

Archive Calendar

«November 2024»
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
28293031123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
2526272829301
2345678

Archive

Terms Of Use | Privacy Statement