Can parents track your phone?

[11kanojias]

So both my dad and I have the Droid Razor and I am covered under my dad's Verison plan. And due to this I was wondering:
Is there any way my dad could track my location, read my text messages, look at exactly what what web sites I visit when I use my phone's data plan, etc.

And if there was a way to do all that, how can those tracking features be disabled?
Thanks!

[lingo]

Here's how it goes.

Can your dad view your text messages?

Technically, yes.

The only way your dad can view your text messages outside of putting spyware software inside your phone is to serve Verizon's LERT (Law Enforcement Resource Team) with a search warrant for text messages. The only thing he can view online without a search warrant is the phone numbers you text, not the content of those messages.

Verizon only keeps text messages 5 days old on the servers. Anything past that is lost, it is too hard to maintain the text messages on the server.

The only other way without a search warrant is to have spyware type software installed on your phone.

If you believe there is this software on your phone do a factory reset and the software will be erased from your phone.

Can your dad track your phone?

Yes.

Your dad can opt into Verizon Family Locator for 10$ a month

He can GPS your location of your phone from the family locator website.

Here's the good thing.

Verizon is mandated by law to send you a text message every time he tracks your phone to make you aware this is occurring. This is due to privacy concerns. Every wireless carrier is required to do this.

Theoretically...'

He can block your text messages...track you...then unblock them. But that's paranoid if you ask me.

So judge your father if you believe he would block texts, track you, and unblock them.

[silver6056]

lingo wrote:

The only other way without a search warrant is to have spyware type software installed on your phone.

If you believe there is this software on your phone do a factory reset and the software will be erased from your phone.

Any "respectable" spyware would be installed in such a way as to survive a factory reset.

[lingo]

Yes you are correct sir. "Respectable" being the key word.

For the most part just don't let anyone you don't trust hold your cell phone. You'll become vulnerable to these exploits.

[mlwfd]

what would be respectable spyware to track a teen with?

[lingo]

Depending on your skill level with phones a common type of service is www.mobile-spy.com

[rwl1776]

So, if this respectable spyware cannot be removed by a factory reset, how do you delete it? I read somewhere a customer would have to take it to a Verizon store and have the operating system removed and reinstalled? Would THAT remove this "respectable" spyware?

If this is done, I know backup assistant will restore your contacts, but what about apps?

[AZSALUKI]

it should be removed with a factory reset. apps can just be redownloaded from the google play store.