You might think that it’s illegal to wiretap telephone calls. But that hasn’t stopped a growing number of companies from offering a full line of wiretapping software for dozens of cell phones. And while using the software is illegal in most countries, that’s not stopping these companies from selling it.
To install these programs, which go by names such as FlexiSPY or Mobile-Spy, all you need is access to the targeted cell phone. Once you install it—a process that takes about five minutes—you can listen to your target’s phone calls and read his or her text messages, call detail (number, time, duration) and any e-mails sent from the phone.
With a GPS-enabled phone, you can obtain the location where your target made each call. And switch on “Spycall” mode (FlexiSPY) and you can listen in to any conversation in the vicinity of your target’s phone—not just phone conversations. In some cell models, you can monitor conversations even if the phone is turned off.
The software delivers all this data to an online account, where you can view it from any these Internet enabled cell phone or PC.
Manufacturers of these programs claim they’re legal. For instance, the FlexiSPY Web site states:
The product is not illegal, but the way in which it is used may break local laws. In general, you may use it on a phone that you own, for protecting your children, for archiving data, for enforcing explicitly stated business use guidelines and so on. We do not support any illegal use of our products, and the term of sale means that you agree to abide by your local laws.
Maybe that’s true in Thailand, where FlexiSPY is based. But it’s not true in most other countries.
You’re bugging someone’s phone and listening in on everything said and all data transmitted. And that’s illegal in the United States, the United Kingdom, and almost everywhere else, unless you obtain a search warrant or other legal authority to do so.
But meanwhile, sales of what one wag on the Internet calls “spouseware” appear to be booming. So even if it’s illegal to bug someone’s phone, lots of people are doing it. And the consequences could obviously be catastrophic if you discuss anything on your cell phone you wouldn’t want published on the front page of The New York Times.
How can you protect yourself? One strategy is to use a phone that spouseware makers don’t support. Click here for a list of supported phones for FlexiSPY.
Second, never let your cell phone out of your possession. While intelligence agencies can likely download spy software to your cell phone surreptitiously, all the commercial wiretapping software I’ve seen requires the eavesdropper to have physical possession of the target phone to install the application.
Third, use a log-on password for your cell phone. This won't defeat a government eavesdropper, but it will frustrate efforts by a non-professional to monitor your cell phone data.
Fourth, if you want to make sure that your cell phone isn’t being used as a bug, take the battery out of it. Obviously, you can’t use it in this situation, but at least it won’t be broadcasting your conversations to persons unknown.
Fifth, be alert to your phone battery being depleted more quickly than normal. That might indicate a worn-out battery, but it could also be a clue that your phone is transmitting surreptitiously.
Sixth, be alert to how warm your phone is. It’s normal for it to be warm after an extended conversation. But if it’s warm and you haven’t used it recently, that raises the possibility it’s transmitting data without your permission.
Seventh, if you use a GSM phone (common throughout the world except for the United States), walk toward a set of stereo speakers. Buzzing interference from speakers is common with GSM phones. If you hear buzzing when you’re not making a call, however, your phone could be bugged.
Copyright © 2009 by Mark Nestmann
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