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RICHMOND -
Cell phone traffic is busier than any downtown street corner. In fact, over 86% of Americans have a cell phone subscription.
Many people use their cell phones as their primary way to communicate but what many don't know is that with a few clicks on the Internet, anyone can tap your cell phone and find out virtually everything about you.
"Once they've had five minutes with your phone," says Mike Gregory a computer expert, "There's no indication that they've ever touched it."
That's because most cell phone tapping is undetectable to the victim. Computer experts like Gregory say once your phone is tapped, the hacker can listen to every phone call you make and every call you receive.
They can also read every text message or e-mail you send and receive and listen to your voice mails.
Gregory says if your phone is equipped with GPS technology, then they will also know where you are at all times.
Cell phone spy ware is on the Internet. It can cost as little as $60 and as much as $350. They target their ads to say, "You can catch a cheating spouse," or "See who your kids real friends are".
The truth is, you can. But without someone's permission it is illegal to tap their cell phone.
M.A. Myers with the FBI says anyone caught tapping a cell phone faces more than a slap on the wrist. "You're exposed to felony punishments if you break one of these laws," says Myers.
Myers says cell phone tapping cases are on the rise but many cases go undetected by the victim.
"A lot of people have the misconception, that speaking on a cell phone, that you're relatively safe from eavesdroppers," adds Myers. "However that's not the case."
To crack his cases private investigator Bob Maurice has a bunch of techy spy ware.
"It's unbelievable how much information somebody will put across the line."
About half of his clients ask Maurice if he's willing to tap someone's phone.
"They ask, can you record my husband or my wife? It's pretty much direct," says Maurice who says his answer is simple, "I can't do that it's illegal."
But with someone's permission it is legal. So, I gave CBS 6 permission to tap my cell phone. I went to a Web site, purchased some software and downloaded it through the browser on my phone.
It prompted the phone to dial an untraceable number that did not show up in the call log. A few commands later the phone was active. It was not the easiest process, but it certainly didn't take a hacker.
"Just understanding the basics, you can get by and figure out how to do it," says Gregory our computer expert.
I started by texting my mom a message. Minutes later it went to a secure account, where a cell phone tapper would be able to view it by computer or by their phone.
E-mails, voice mails... it's all at their fingertips and there's not a trace of anything on my phone.
"If they've already had access to your phone," warns Gregory, "Well you're in a lot of trouble."
And more troubling still is that most people have no idea that this technology exists.
The best ways to avoid being tapped is to:
Many people use their cell phones as their primary way to communicate but what many don't know is that with a few clicks on the Internet, anyone can tap your cell phone and find out virtually everything about you.
"Once they've had five minutes with your phone," says Mike Gregory a computer expert, "There's no indication that they've ever touched it."
That's because most cell phone tapping is undetectable to the victim. Computer experts like Gregory say once your phone is tapped, the hacker can listen to every phone call you make and every call you receive.
They can also read every text message or e-mail you send and receive and listen to your voice mails.
Gregory says if your phone is equipped with GPS technology, then they will also know where you are at all times.
Cell phone spy ware is on the Internet. It can cost as little as $60 and as much as $350. They target their ads to say, "You can catch a cheating spouse," or "See who your kids real friends are".
The truth is, you can. But without someone's permission it is illegal to tap their cell phone.
M.A. Myers with the FBI says anyone caught tapping a cell phone faces more than a slap on the wrist. "You're exposed to felony punishments if you break one of these laws," says Myers.
Myers says cell phone tapping cases are on the rise but many cases go undetected by the victim.
"A lot of people have the misconception, that speaking on a cell phone, that you're relatively safe from eavesdroppers," adds Myers. "However that's not the case."
To crack his cases private investigator Bob Maurice has a bunch of techy spy ware.
"It's unbelievable how much information somebody will put across the line."
About half of his clients ask Maurice if he's willing to tap someone's phone.
"They ask, can you record my husband or my wife? It's pretty much direct," says Maurice who says his answer is simple, "I can't do that it's illegal."
But with someone's permission it is legal. So, I gave CBS 6 permission to tap my cell phone. I went to a Web site, purchased some software and downloaded it through the browser on my phone.
It prompted the phone to dial an untraceable number that did not show up in the call log. A few commands later the phone was active. It was not the easiest process, but it certainly didn't take a hacker.
"Just understanding the basics, you can get by and figure out how to do it," says Gregory our computer expert.
I started by texting my mom a message. Minutes later it went to a secure account, where a cell phone tapper would be able to view it by computer or by their phone.
E-mails, voice mails... it's all at their fingertips and there's not a trace of anything on my phone.
"If they've already had access to your phone," warns Gregory, "Well you're in a lot of trouble."
And more troubling still is that most people have no idea that this technology exists.
The best ways to avoid being tapped is to:
- Treat your phone like you would your computer.
- Password protect it.
- Don't leave it unattended especially in public places
- Be conscious of viruses that may cause your phone to act up.
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