Cell phone tracking

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Cell Phone Tracking is a technology used to track the current position of a cell phone. To locate the phone, it must be turned on but does not require an active call.

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.

Tracking by is available for uploading this information 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. Also, phones can have secondary batteries installed to allow tracking even if the battery is removed.

[edit] Privacy

Privacy is a great concern. The Electronic Frontier Foundation is tracking some cases, including USA v. Pen Register, regarding government tracking of an 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. A mobile sitting on the desk of a politician or businessman can act as a powerful, undetectable bug.