Spyware for parents?

Factual Questions
1

My sister was asking me about an app that she might be able to surreptitiously add to her daughter’s iPhone to report her current location. Does such an app exist?

Thanks,
Rob

2

Apple uses a service called MobileMe for GPS tracking of iphones. She could make a mobileme account and just log in (its web based) to see her location.

3

The stuff on apple.com isn’t very clear as to how to use it to track a particular phone. How is that accomplished? Also, there isn’t a free app to track the phones, is there?

Thanks,
Rob

4

I believe MobileMe GPS tracking is activated via the settings on the iPhone, so its not something that can be done without the user’s knowledge.

I can’t think of an easy way of doing what you’re asking. You’d have to jailbreak the phone, which is something that the user would presumably notice eventually. I also think that Apple would probably be opening themselves up to getting sued if they made it something easily done. Perhaps your sister spying on her daughter is acceptable. But what would stop someone from using the same app to spy on their girlfriend, ex-wife, employee, etc.?

5

I feel fairly sure that my sister could put something on her daughter’s phone which she would never notice, so getting my niece’s phone and putting an app on it should be no problem. The girl in question is unfortunately not very bright and has been hanging out with some bad people and my sister would like to keep track of her.

Thanks,
Rob

6

I was just reading about some new app that was causing some concern. If I remember correctly, not only could you track someone, but you could turn on their phone (without that person knowing) and listen to what they were saying and, if I am not mistaken, even turn on the camera to see them.

I don’t have the app or link, but I believe I read this in the last couple of months. I guess it depends on how invasive your sister wants to be.

7

If she owns the iphone she can get the mobileme account for it and will need it physically for a minute or two to setup the login.

8

This was an exploit for Symbian, not iPhone.