5 legal ways to spy on your loved ones through apps and gadgets

Mobile phone tracking is the process of tracking the location of a mobile phone. Generally speaking, there are various technologies and modules that make up a cell phone, and based on this, there are a number of ways to target the device and track and monitor its location.

However, since the manual route is not that easy, you can use various cell phone trackers available in the form of apps and software to make tracking your phone easier.

Life360

The application is similar to the previous one and to view the location must be installed on two phones, for example family members or close friends. You will start by building a main circle, in which you will place only your closest relatives, then you can create more circles, adding other people to them - distant relatives, friends, colleagues, and so on. For each circle you can set your own settings. In addition, you can send messages to your contacts in the application.

How do phone tracking apps work?

Generally, mobile phone tracking services (apps and software) usually use GPS (Global Positioning System) to pinpoint the location of the target device.

To do this, they work using various satellites orbiting the Earth, and they use the GPS receiver on mobile phones to communicate with some of these satellites. Once a connection is established, these apps can determine the distance to each of the satellites and determine the (approximate) location of the phone using a process known as trilateration.

While these phone tracking services are useful and come in handy when you lose your smartphone or want to keep an eye on your child or family member, they also delegate certain privacy concerns. And, depending on where you are in the world, using them against people without their consent makes you guilty of a serious offence.

So, if you have been searching for cell phone trackers and trying to find them in app stores, only to be overwhelmed by the sheer number of such apps, here is our hand-picked list of some of the best phone tracking apps to help you with all kinds of cell phone tracking needs.

SocialRadar

SocialRadar is a program that monitors your friends on social networks and can tell you which of them are nearby in real time. Works with Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Linkedin, Google+ and Foursquare, even allowing you to see their messages and the ability to send replies. The user also has access to statuses - online, anonymous or invisible when using the application.

Amber Alert GPS - tracker for children

Finding a location using your phone has its drawbacks, especially if you need to monitor your child's movements.
Many people prefer not to buy smartphones for their children, and with regular mobile phones, the accuracy of geolocation services linked to base stations often leaves much to be desired. In addition, the device may run out of battery or simply turn it off. A separate GPS tracker, for example, Amber Alert GPS, specially designed for children, will help deal with such problems. A child can call parents with Amber Alert GPS with the press of one button

This device is essentially a miniature phone with always-on GPS and the ability to dial a specific number with the press of a button. It can be configured to send coordinates at a certain frequency - from several minutes to hours. According to the manufacturers, the battery life of Amber Alert GPS, even with the most frequent coordinate updates, is about 40 hours.

Parents can view all information about the child’s location using a web service or in a special mobile application. Using the control program, you can also configure up to 20 geofences, when crossing the boundaries of which a notification will be sent.

Telecom operators

But that's not all about such a concept as geolocation. What else could it be? The search engine service has a similar name. Using it is actually not difficult. In particular, if you do not use geolocation secretly. Otherwise, the process will cause a lot of trouble.

You can activate the service through telecom operators. Their application being studied is called “Navigator” or “Locator”. With their help, you can send a request in the prescribed form on the service website or from a mobile device, and then check where the person is.

The algorithm of actions will be approximately as follows:

1. Connecting the operator option on the phone that will be monitored.
2. Enable the service on your smartphone.
3. Sending a USSD or SMS request at the right time. You can simply enter the phone number of the subscriber you want to find on the geolocation website.
4. Familiarization with the information provided.

If the request was sent from a phone, the user will receive a message with an image of a map on which this or that subscriber will be displayed. Everything is extremely simple and clear.

There are several disadvantages to this geolocation:

• the need to install the option on the monitored phone;
• limited number of connected and tracked numbers;
• high prices for the service (if used frequently).

Therefore, many try to look for other techniques. And this is a completely doable task. The main thing is to approach its solution correctly.

PocketFinder - universal beacon

However, a special GPS tag can be used not only to monitor your child’s movements.
Using such a device, you can control the location of your car, pet or luggage. One of the simplest but most functional gadgets designed for such geolocation is PocketFinder. PocketFinder can be used as a GPS tracker for a car, dog or luggage

This miniature device has a fairly large set of functions for geotracking. It can be configured to send coordinates at certain intervals and receive notifications on your smartphone or email when the sensor crosses the boundaries of certain zones. If you use PocketFinder to track your vehicle's location, you can use speeding notifications and view 60-day driving history.

The device has a dust- and moisture-proof body, so it can survive even a sudden bath if it is used as a dog tracker. Data is sent via cellular communication—for the gadget to work, you need to install a SIM card in it. PocketFinder can be controlled via mobile applications for Android and iOS operating systems.

Connection with operators (numbers)

How to enable geolocation from mobile operators? It all depends on the service company. The following options are possible:

1. "Beeline" - send an empty message to number 5166, and then install the "Locator" program for Android.
2. “Megafon” - dial USSD request *140№#. To track the subscriber, use the Navigator from Megafon website or the command *140*subscriber_number#.
3. “MTS” - activation occurs after submitting a request like *111*788#. To add a subscriber to the geolocation list, you need to write an SMS in the format “Add name number” and send it to number 6677. It is better to track the position through the MTS website (Locator).
4. “Tele2” - connection occurs by dialing the combination *119*01#, adding a new contact - *119*1*number#, receiving information about a person’s position - *119*2*number#.

It's actually not that difficult. But you have to understand that the service you are studying works with some errors. It displays the position of the phone with a difference of up to 1 kilometer (in the city center - up to 200 meters).

Part 4: Spy

Millions of people around the world have also used Spyic for tracking and other tasks. So this will allow you to find a phone number no matter if it is on an Android or iOS device.

It is compatible with Android 4.0 or later and iOS 7.0 or later. In this range of categories, you won't need any rooting or jailbreaking. Android requires a one-time installation, while iOS can be tracked using iCloud ID.

Spyic also has a stealth mode feature for hiding.

iPhone and surveillance

But that is not all. Geolocation is built into the iPhone. This is a service that it is advisable to activate after turning on the phone for the first time.

To cope with the task, you must:

1. Open the main menu of the phone.
2. Go to “Settings” - “Privacy”.
3. Select the Location Services option.
4. Set the toggle switch to the “On” position.
5. If necessary, set up a geolocation connection with other applications on the gadget.

After this, you can use geolocation using the iCloud cloud service. This is done like this:

1. Go to icloud.com.
2. Sign in using AppleID.
3. Click on the “Geolocation” button.
4. Select your device at the top of the screen.
5. Click on the line “Find iPhone”.

It is done. Now you can familiarize yourself with the information provided. This is how people can track their Apple devices.

Third party software

Geolocation on Android is most often activated through third-party programs and applications. Most of them are paid.

The algorithm of actions in this case will be as follows:

1. Install spyware on the monitored phone. Something like “Phone Tracker”, Hellospy, Talklog will do.
2. Configure information transfer parameters.
3. From a computer or phone, send a request for pre-installed software.
4. Get information about the device's position.

Fast, simple and convenient. Only the latest versions of antivirus software can detect spyware. But finding a working geolocation is problematic.

Parental control

Most parental control programs support tracking not only smartphones, but also simpler gadgets like watches or fitness bracelets. This is convenient when children have devices for different purposes, for example, the older one has a mobile phone, the younger one has a watch.

Note: There are special applications that control only watches and bracelets, without tracking smartphones. Among the popular ones, we highlight SE Tracker.

MaPaMap

The application was developed in Poland. It is shareware, that is, with pop-up advertising. It is this that can be disabled in the paid version.

Program functionality:

• the ability to determine the location of a cell phone on a map;
• work with both smartphones and watches;
• LBS support;
• installation of a safe zone, geofence;
• exchange of messages, including voice messages;
• search and remote shutdown of the gadget;
• remote wiretapping;
• the ability to install the application for both parents.

Answers to frequently asked questions from Android device users

• Is it possible to find my phone if it is turned off or dead?

Unfortunately, to track your gadget you must be connected to the Internet. Therefore, if your battery runs out, the only option for searching is to use the history of geolocations (however, such tracking may not be operational).

• If my smartphone is stolen and reset to factory settings, will it be possible to find it using a tracking app?

You will not be able to find your gadget if the tracking application has been deleted. The only option in this case is to use root access.

• Can I use the IMEI number to find a device?

No. The only possible action using the IMEI number (you can find it using the *#06# command) is to block the phone. To do this, you need to make a request to your mobile operator.

• Why is my smartphone not showing up on the built-in tracking software?

The most common reason is the device turning off or the battery running low.
Also, synchronization may stop if you change the password of your Google account. Liked?

Some statistics about geolocation apps

Technology is advancing at an astronomical rate, and more and more services are using geolocation to provide more convenient services. In America in 2022, the market for such applications was estimated https://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/4622307/location-based-services-market-growth-trends at $44.47 billion. Researchers expect that by 2026 this figure will increase by more than 23% and the total turnover of the sector will be 155.13 billion dollars. There is another, similar forecast https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/location-based-services-market that the market will grow by 27% by 2027.

The research boils down to one thing: the demand for geolocation apps will grow, and more startups will integrate these features into their solutions in the coming years. To avoid being left behind and keep up with your competitors, we recommend integrating user location into your app.

Shutdown

How to disable geolocation? The answer depends on how the option is connected. In the case of telecom operators, you will have to contact the relevant organizations or use USSD requests. If we are talking about spyware, you just need to remove it.

On Apple devices you need to do the following:

1. Go to the gadget settings.
2. Find “Privacy” - “Location Services”.
3. Set the switch to the “Off” position.

Now the answer to the question: “Geolocation - what is it?” won't cause any trouble. After all, you are already familiar with this application.