Enter the Phone Number on the Search Box below
Example 555-555-555
Cell Phone GPS Tracking
There are several ways someone can track you with GPS:
1. Your phone
2. External GPS Hardware
3. GPS software on your laptop or phone
Your phone: Cell phone networks have been designed to identify
locations of cellular users since the late 1990's. This was part of a
federal mandate to help find citizens in emergency situations and has
already saved many lives. At the same time, it introduces a potential tool
for invasion of privacy.
The law is called "E911" or Enhanced 911 Wireless Services. To learn more,
visit the Federal Communication Commission
here.
Realistically, there is little you can do to avoid the Enhanced 911
Wireless Service law. You always have the option of turning off your cell
phone or not carrying it with you.
GPS hardware and software: This technology has flooded the market
in recent years, creating a much more realistic concern. These GPS
trackers (uLocate Trackem, Whereify Wireless) allow a third party to
physically install software or a chip on your cell phone and then monitor
your geographic location from any PC with complimentary software.
More specifically, some programs will not only allow for mapping of
location, but will create a real time map or a summary of your movement
including stop duration, etc…
The GPS Tracker feature is becoming increasingly common in the market, as
a safety feature for individuals wishing to know the whereabouts of their
children, partner, or family members. Similar to "E911", as a safety
feature or as a tool of convenience GPS technology is truly useful.
However, it introduces a real tool for the invasion of privacy.
A Word on Privacy and Employers:
In a recent American Management Association (AMA) study, employers have
been slow to adopt emerging monitoring/surveillance technologies to help
track employee productivity and movement. Employers who use Assisted
Global Positioning or Global Positioning Systems satellite technology are
in the minority, with only 5% using GPS to monitor cell phones; 8% using
GPS to track company vehicles; and 8% using GPS to monitor employee
ID/Smartcards.
So if you have a company-issued telephone, it is possible there is GPS
tracker software pre-installed. They could be monitoring your locations
during and after work. Your consent would be implicit in your working for
them and accepting a company issued phone. Yikes!
You can minimize the threat of someone using GPS to track you by:
- Monitoring any new or unknown software on your phone or laptop. If there's something new or unknown, research it. Although some spyware will not show up as a program on the phone, some will.
- Monitoring any new or unknown hardware on your phone or laptop. If it's a physical GPS tracker, check under the battery cover or in the "nooks and crannies" of the phone.
- Check with your phone service provider if your account is set up with a tracker/monitor feature. Perhaps a spouse who has access to the account (or manages the finances) set it up, or a third party impersonated you to add the feature to the account.
- If you think someone is interested in tracking you, be smart and don't physically leave your phone for too long. Many of these programs need arm's reach installation to get onto your phone.
- If you think a loved one or friend is interested in tracking you: try talking to them about whatever issues revolve around them possibly wishing to track you! ("Good communication" often equals "peace of mind".)
- In regards to a work phone, leave the phone at home when you're not "on-call".
- Turn your phone off. (Warning, this will not work for GPS hardware, only software!)
Run reverse phone search now
Example 555-555-555
- Find out the source of a harassing ("prank") caller
- Investigate a "suspicious" number that you found on your boyfriend/girlfriend's phone
- Research a number that appeared on your phone bill
- Locate an old friend from high school or college
- Research "missed calls" on your caller ID that you don't recognize
- Lookup someone's exact address
- And more..