# Cell Phone Monitoring Software

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-monitoring-software/664637>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [July 26, 2013, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-monitoring-software/664637 "2013-07-26T23:41:12Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![arjee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/2bfe46/32.png) [@arjee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/arjee)\
**Post date:** [July 26, 2013, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-monitoring-software/664637/1 "2013-07-26T23:41:12Z")

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Has anyone here tried products like Phonesheriff or Stealthgenie or other software meant to be installed on a cell phone for monitoring purposes? If so, I’d be interested in your feedback about the products.

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**Author:** ![madrabbitwoman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c37758/32.png) [@madrabbitwoman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madrabbitwoman)\
**Post date:** [July 27, 2013, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-monitoring-software/664637/2 "2013-07-27T00:35:20Z")

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I use something called Lookout Mobile Security - I get a weekly update about what my phone has been up to ans where it is. Of course I put it on there (just in case it gets nicked) so I’m not some scuzzy person spying on someone else.

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**Author:** ![arjee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/2bfe46/32.png) [@arjee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/arjee)\
**Post date:** [July 27, 2013, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-monitoring-software/664637/3 "2013-07-27T02:59:42Z")

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Thanks, **madrabbitwoman**. I guess I’m a scuzzy person then. Regardless, do you like the software? Is it easy to use?

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**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\
**Post date:** [July 27, 2013, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-monitoring-software/664637/4 "2013-07-27T03:01:37Z")

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Don’t use it. My experience with spy software (mother used it on my 17-year-old sister) is that it indicates major trust issues with the person. If it’s your child, taking the phone away would be a better solution. If it’s an enemy or competitor, it’s illegal. If it’s a spouse/partner, either you have unfounded trust issues or they have done something to break your trust and you can’t/won’t get over it. Either way, break up.

Don’t use it.

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**Author:** ![arjee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/2bfe46/32.png) [@arjee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/arjee)\
**Post date:** [July 27, 2013, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-monitoring-software/664637/5 "2013-07-27T03:39:05Z")

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Thank you for your advice, **Rachellelogram**. Rather than get into why I might find it useful, I’d prefer this thread remain about the feedback on the software itself.