How To Detect Mobile Phone Monitoring Software?
Hi I was hoping you guys here might know about any new software that u can just simply put in anyone's cell number of a local network and in minutes be able to control there phone and monitor calls,texts and maybe switch off the phone and do whatever...I have a sister that has an x boyfriend who possibly monitors her cell phone activities.She has purchased a heap of different sim cards even change a couple of phones and she still sees a lot of weird activities and flagged and checked numbers and texts on her phone.The ting is once she gives him her new number it seems like he can take the number and put it somewhere or give it to someone and in like 5 minutes or so be able to control her phone..How she was able to determine it's him was as soon as she gave him her number then she saw like a nokia progress bar loading across her phone even though she had a sony erricson phone and after that instance she notices a lot of weird activities.I know there are a lot of mobile phone monitoring software available but u would need to manually install it on the users phone that u would like to monitor..But my sister has never given him any of her new phones she had bought all she did was give him the new cell number because they have kids and they need to keep in contact even though they aren't living together....Could you guys please tell me what might be happening?Thanks..
MCSA2003
Sounds like she might need to have her cellular provider look at the phone. I am not aware of any type of monitoring software that can be installed remotely and run without any user intervention. I would belive it more if she were using a Blackberry and it was attached to a Blackberry Enterprise Server, but this does not sound like the case.
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Seems the average Joe can get his hands on the software now.
It used to be that it took an experienced operator to remotely control phones from the carrier's side. That's why cell phone jamming technology is deployed in sensitive areas. Anyone's microphone can be remote actuated and used to record conversations.
With the popularity of technologies like SMS and GPS, there is a greater breach of privacy. I don't think the cameras can be remotely triggered yet...buy who knows?
The software can be downloaded to the phone, and essentially turns it into one big tracking device.
One possible solution:
Get a new cell phone and number. Tell the carrier that you've already had issues with illegal surveillance.
Get a VoIP line, like $10/month service from Broadvoice.
Setup call routing so calls are forwarded to the new cell number.
NEVER call directly from the cell phone. (Alternatively, ask the carrier if you can have the caller ID permanently blocked, and NEVER call a toll-free number).
That doesn't change the illegal surveillance. Contact the carrier. Tell them you suspect illegal surveillance and unauthorized activity. Have them examine the phone. File a police report. Have the ex arrested for illegal wiretap, stalking, unauthorized theft of services, the list goes on.
Why would someone continue a relationship with a criminal? "It's for the kid" is not an excuse. I wouldn't want my kid to be exposed to a nut job.
Seems the average Joe can get his hands on the software now.
It used to be that it took an experienced operator to remotely control phones from the carrier's side. That's why cell phone jamming technology is deployed in sensitive areas. Anyone's microphone can be remote actuated and used to record conversations.
With the popularity of technologies like SMS and GPS, there is a greater breach of privacy. I don't think the cameras can be remotely triggered yet...buy who knows?
The software can be downloaded to the phone, and essentially turns it into one big tracking device.
One possible solution:
Get a new cell phone and number. Tell the carrier that you've already had issues with illegal surveillance.
Get a VoIP line, like $10/month service from Broadvoice.
Setup call routing so calls are forwarded to the new cell number.
NEVER call directly from the cell phone. (Alternatively, ask the carrier if you can have the caller ID permanently blocked, and NEVER call a toll-free number).
That doesn't change the illegal surveillance. Contact the carrier. Tell them you suspect illegal surveillance and unauthorized activity. Have them examine the phone. File a police report. Have the ex arrested for illegal wiretap, stalking, unauthorized theft of services, the list goes on.
Why would someone continue a relationship with a criminal? "It's for the kid" is not an excuse. I wouldn't want my kid to be exposed to a nut job.
"Seems the average Joe can get his hands on the software now."
Yes - but it would require access to the phone for installation so he would need physical access to it for at least 2-3 minutes.
I wouldn't go calling the cops just yet, she'd look a paranoid idiot if she's wrong. Better to confront him, ask him, guage the reaction if poss. But deffo speak to her phone operator first.
Yes - but it would require access to the phone for installation so he would need physical access to it for at least 2-3 minutes.
I wouldn't go calling the cops just yet, she'd look a paranoid idiot if she's wrong. Better to confront him, ask him, guage the reaction if poss. But deffo speak to her phone operator first.
ASKER
Yes hotroc I have no choice to agree with you.the only way is maybe she infects the phone probably when he sends the infected file to her phone (disguised as something legit)tru the internet connection via mms or wap services and when she opens it up it loads onto the phone and then he is able to hack......What I think I would let her do is get a new enabled sim card but this time either use a cheap phone that doesn't have mms or wap or is not internet capable or if she has a phone that is internet capable i would go into the settings and disable the appropriate services.I would try this and hope it works..If it doesn't then I would go to our operator and let them handle it from their...Thanks for this information.
ASKER
thanks a lot of this insight..do u have an email?.i would of liked to contact u and let u know if your solution worked... ....thanks again
>>"Seems the average Joe can get his hands on the software now."
>Yes - but it would require access to the phone for installation
Not if an operator for the carrier is involved (or someone with the same level of knowledge). I don't see how remote installation would be terribly difficult.
I can lock and completely wipe a Blackberry remotely, and I don't have near the amount of access or knowledge that a mobile operator would have. It's all software.
>Yes - but it would require access to the phone for installation
Not if an operator for the carrier is involved (or someone with the same level of knowledge). I don't see how remote installation would be terribly difficult.
I can lock and completely wipe a Blackberry remotely, and I don't have near the amount of access or knowledge that a mobile operator would have. It's all software.
Hi Platinumsteel,
normally you can detect and remove malicious software/spyware with special virus detection software for mobile phones. Software like F-secure's "Mobile Security"-pack (http://www.f-secure.com/en_EMEA/products/mobile/) detects and removes normally all malicious software. In this extra-ordinary case it might work, because anti-vius software for mobile phones detect also attempts to hijack the mobile via the internetbrowser.
If that doesn't work you can contact a company that delivers protection against hijacking mobile devices by sending all data the mobile phone receives and sends via their servers. But there is a big con: that kind of protecting your sisters mobile is very expensive.
Hopefully you find a way to get the control of your sisters' phone back.
normally you can detect and remove malicious software/spyware with special virus detection software for mobile phones. Software like F-secure's "Mobile Security"-pack (http://www.f-secure.com/en_EMEA/products/mobile/) detects and removes normally all malicious software. In this extra-ordinary case it might work, because anti-vius software for mobile phones detect also attempts to hijack the mobile via the internetbrowser.
If that doesn't work you can contact a company that delivers protection against hijacking mobile devices by sending all data the mobile phone receives and sends via their servers. But there is a big con: that kind of protecting your sisters mobile is very expensive.
Hopefully you find a way to get the control of your sisters' phone back.