MID-MICHIGAN (WJRT) — (05/19/09)–What if someone could spy on you using something you carry every day?

They could know exactly where you are, and even tap into your private conversations, all by hijacking your cell phone.

Security experts say it’s happening often thanks to technology readily available on the Internet.

Just think how many times you reach for your cell phone every day. What if someone was watching every text, every e-mail and every word?
In this day and age, with all this technology that’s out there, is there any more expectation of privacy?

“I don’t think so,” said Kirk Anthony, who should know.

Anthony is a private investigator in Genesee County and he says there’s a growing list of online companies selling Spyware for cell phones.

“It’s available to anybody,” Anthony said.

The companies market their products as ways to “catch a cheating spouse,” “protect your children,” or even see what your co-workers are saying behind your back.

“You can watch their e-mails,” Anthony said. “You can see their text messages going back and forth. And in some cases, you can even listen to their conversations.”

And if you don’t believe a private investigator, just ask ABC12 producer Molly Daunt. We gave her one of our station’s cell phones and asked her to use it for a few days.

With her permission, we installed a program called FlexiSPY.

For $349 a year, its Web site claimed we could virtually track her every move, and that she’d “never know.”

The installation process took a lot of patience, but once the program was downloaded, it began to work.

“They’re not even going to know it’s on there. It’s that simple,” Anthony said.

Every time Daunt sent a text message or made a phone call, the software sent us an e-mail to let us know.

We could then access everything online — e-mails, texts, even her exact GPS location, right down to latitude and longitude.

We could see satellite image — or even a street view — thanks to Google Maps.

But that was just the beginning. Get this: Just as Daunt was finishing her morning run and returning to her car with a friend, she left her phone in a cup holder.

We could then turn the phone on remotely and listen to an entire conversation. And she didn’t even notice.

FlexiSPY also promised we could listen in on actual phone calls, although we did have trouble doing that for more than a few seconds.

The company’s tech support told us it was likely a problem with the phone. Apparently some models support the software better than others.

Still, technical glitches aside, the access is staggering.

“Cell phones, really, you’re at the mercy of the person that gets a hold of your phone,” Anthony said.

Which brings up the obvious question: Is all this legal?

“The person that you’re spying on has to be aware of it. Otherwise, it’s totally illegal,” Anthony said.

But these companies are usually based overseas and they have plenty of disclaimers online.

FlexiSPY’s developer states on its Web site that the company ” … assumes no liability,” and that it is the “user’s responsibility to obey all laws in their country.”

So even though it is technically illegal in Michigan, are people still doing it?

“Absolutely,” Anthony said. “I believe very often.”

Anthony says every week, he turns down two or three clients who want him to dig up some dirt by tapping a cell phone.

So you might be asking yourself why we’re giving people ideas. Well, experts like Anthony say the technology is out there. It has been for years.

So how can you protect yourself? First, don’t leave your phone lying around. Put a password on it.

If you’re not using it for an extended period of time, take the battery out.

And if you notice weird clicks during your conversations or your phone lights up at unexpected times, it could be a sign your privacy is being compromised.

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