Saturday, October 4, 2008

"Spy Software for Mobile Phones" Skirts Laws

via Wired...
Arizona company Retina-X Studios has released the latest version of Mobile Spy, a monitoring software for smartphones.


The software allows users to spy on SMS text and call details in real time online. The program runs in total stealth mode and no entries are shown inside a phone's task manager, says the company.
.. The details can be then checked online without any further access to the phone.

The software is available for Windows Mobile and Symbian OS smartphones and a version for the iPhone is in development for a December release, says the company. Currently it is priced at $50 for three months use and $100 for a year.


This may be legal in some circumstances but it raises privacy questions.
• In what circumstances is it okay to use this phone?
• Can spying on kids really help create a better relationship with them?
• Or, to what extent can taking away employees' privacy be justified in the name of protecting the secrets of a corporation? (more)

Note: "Mobile Spy" does not allow audio eavesdropping, which explains how it circumvents current U.S. privacy laws.