Tech To Snoop On Texting, Cell Phone Calls

Geared For Parents Seeking To Monitor Kids; Also Enables Blocking; Another Program Lets Parents Track Kids' Whereabouts

(CBS)  A new program enables parents to read text messages and e-mails their kids are sending and receiving, and to monitor their cell phone calls.

TextGuard, explained CNET-TV Senior Editor Natali Del Conte (CNET is a partner of CBS News.com) on The Early Show Wednesday, also gives parents the capability of blocking such traffic, should they decide a sender is an undesirable influence. It's also marketed to employers looking to keep tabs on employees.

Del Conte also offered details on Loopt, a program that enables parents to follow their kids on a map, to know whether they're really at the library, or off doing something else! Loopt takes advantage of the GPS tracking devices built into most cell phones. It's also being used as a social networking tool, so kids can know where there friends are, etc.

These programs are a small part of a growing market of security and monitoring software that gives users more and more access to private lives, and that some say could be an invasion of privacy, Del Conte points out.

She told co-anchor Maggie Rodriguez most parents whose opinions she sampled in New York's Central Park said they'd have no problem using such software.

"I was surprised," Del Conte said. "I learned about this software and I thought, 'Ooh, civil liberties issue.'"

"I guess we're all sneakier than we tend to admit to ourselves!" Del Conte said.

How does TextGuard work?

"You download a program on a cell phone," Del Conte said. "And right now, it only works with BlackBerry or Windows Mobile. And you go to the Internet and you set up an account, and you track as many numbers as you want. So, when you log onto the Website, you can see all activity: You can read all text messages, ingoing and outgoing, you can also read e-mails, and call logs, and see mobile browsing history, so (you can) see what someone else is maybe surfing online.

"It's a new technology. I don't find it super-easy to download the program on the phone, but the website is really easy to navigate. Basically, you just click the number and say what's been going on there."

Will kids know their cell phones have a knowing eye on them?

"They probably will know, because it's an application. But it's a question of -- you're probably paying for that phone, so you have the right to put whatever application on that phone that you want -- maybe!"

Del Conte added that TextGuard costs "about $11 a month for a specific amount of data. And then, if they're sending more and you're keeping that data, it costs a little more."

[victorlund-2009]

CBS did a pretty good job covering this. But you missed the issues. How many kids have a blackberry or windows mobile phone? Pricing for those devices is above $150 and monthly fees require a minimum call service plus a data plan.

perhaps parents should check out zhiing - its free, no additional costs and no fancy phone required (although we must admit that the fancy phone improves the experience.)

[tuties_2004]

what web site do you go for this?

[ybotheratall]

B S If I find proof of illegal spying on me even 25 years from now- I will get those responsible by any means necessary. Is anything I know worth your life? Personally, I doubt it but maybe your life has no value...


Posted by Impeach__W at 03:27 PM
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LOL, I''ve heard it all now. Death threat by public message board. Do you realize the complete idiot you are and what you sound like? OMG lol, great morning coffee fodder.

[legacyabq]

Some prorammer somewhere will make a firmware upgrade to stop this technology, or BETTER, to fake it out with false information to throw off your tracker..
If it runs on software friends, it CAN be hacked!!

[erehak]

I wonder how long it will be before the government starts using this technology to monitor OUR calls, texts, etc...All they''d have to do would be require providers to build this application into all new phones, and they''d be able to track every single one of us. For all we know, they may already be doing it.

[charity34-2009]

i agree with the posting by hologram 5. it is a trust issue if you no your child and trust them you will not need to worry about wat they doing and who they doing.

[ejrose5]

I believe this will be a very bad thing to implement as I guarantee that this will not only be used to protect children but also used to protect marriages and relationships.

At which point this will completely get out of hand and out judicial system will love it and so will divorcees.

[bobnjersey]

[She told co-anchor Maggie Rodriguez most parents whose opinions she sampled in New York''s Central Park said they''d have no problem using such software.

"I was surprised," Del Conte said. "I learned about this software and I thought, ''Ooh, civil liberties issue.''" ]

i''m sure they''d feel diferently if they were the one''s being monitored.

[hmkach]

This is just what this world needs... Parents and Employers becoming more like the government. Yayy!

Seriously? Are they just trying to make people hate the USA more, be more paranoid and cause more chaos?

Just to make a buck...

[hologram5]

Be an active parent in your child''s life, get to know them. Spend time with them, gain their trust and you wont have these issues. It all comes down to parenting.