Mobile phone tracking
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
It has been suggested that Positioning (telecommunications) be merged into this article or section. (Discuss) |
|
|
It has been suggested that GSM localization be merged into this article or section. (Discuss) |
 |
This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (February 2008) |
Cell phone tracking tracks the current position of a cell phone. To locate the phone, it must be turned on[citation needed] but does not require an active call. GSM localisation is then done by triangulation based on the signal strength to nearby signal masts.[1]
In order to route calls to your phone the cell towers listen for a signal sent from the phone and negotiate which tower is best able to communicate with the phone. As the phone changes location, the towers monitor the signal and the phone is switched to a different tower as appropriate. By comparing the relative signal strength from multiple towers a general location of a phone can be determined.
A phone's location can be uploaded to a common web site where your "friends and family" can view your last reported position.
Newer phones may have built-in GPS receivers which could be used in a similar fashion, but with much higher accuracy.
Some newer phones and technology may also allow the tracking of the phone even when turned off or, at least, have the microphone activated.[2] Also, phones can have secondary batteries installed to allow tracking even if the battery is removed.
Contents |
[edit] Privacy
The Electronic Frontier Foundation is tracking some cases, including USA v. Pen Register, regarding government tracking of individuals such as pedophiles & often political activists.
The FBI appears to have begun using a novel form of electronic surveillance in criminal investigations: remotely activating a mobile phone’s microphone and using it to eavesdrop on nearby conversations. The technique is called a “roving bug,” and was approved by top U.S. Department of Justice.[3] A mobile sitting on the desk of a politician or businessman can act as a powerful, undetectable bug.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- privacyrights.org - Protecting Your Privacy in the Age of the Super-Phone
- Cell Reception - Google maps API to locate cell towers in the United States
- Cellphone Tracking Powers on Request, washingtonpost.com
[edit] References
- ^ How Mobile Phone Tracking Works. “Mobile phone tracking technology works by measuring the distance the phone's signal has to travel to the nearest mobile masts based on time and signal strength. A triangulation calculation is made and the position is plotted on a web map.”
- ^ Roving Bug in Cell Phones Used By FBI to Eavesdrop on Syndicate. The Chicago Syndicate.
- ^ FBI taps cell phone mic as eavesdropping tool. ZDNet.
