Is Your Cell Phone Transmitting Your Location? Cell Phone Tracking, Location Privacy and e911   9/22/2005 - 37,484 views, 48 Comments

Summary: Cell phone tracking via GPS and location privacy is starting to emerge as a big issue, especially with more GPS enabled cell phones on the market. e911 rules require that your cell phone transmit your location data when you make a 911 call. But some people are finding that their GPS cell phones are transmitting their location all the time.

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Is your cell phone transmitting your location, acting like a homing beacon for whomever may wish to listen in? Cell phone tracking versus location privacy are hot topics these days. Federal e911 (enhanced 911 communications for mobile devices) rules require that your cell phone carrier be able to provide your location information in the event that you initiate a 911 call, but some consumers are reporting that their GPS cell phones are transmitting this information all the time, not just when they dial 9-1-1.

The Treo 650, for example, offers you the choice of transmitting your location all the time, or only when you make a 911 call. Consumers are reporting that Verizon provisioned Treo 650s are defaulted to report their location back to the Verizon mothership at all times, not just during an e911 call. Fortunately for those users, at least those who care about this issue and figure out to look into it, they can change that by checking “enable location privacy” in their Phone Preferences.

Phone location privacy means that your GPS-enabled phone is not transmitting your location except during an emergency call.

Think it’s not something about which you really need to worry? I mean, who would bother to track you, anyways, and how easy could it be?

Well, within the past three weeks we’ve had two reports on these pages alone about GPS technology in cell phones being used to track people on a regular basis. The Wherify Wherifone is used for tracking kids, employees, and senior citizens, and TeenArriveAlive, while pitched as a way to monitor your teen’s driving, is really a GPS cell phone and Internet-based tracking software.

So, does your GPS cell phone have a location privacy option, and is it enabled?

By the way, you never have to worry about losing a cell phone again with StuffBak, the new insurance for cell phones, PDAs and other portable devices! And by special arrangement, Internet Patrol readers get a 10% discount on Stuffbak!

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Read more:

»  Full GPS Slated for Nokia Cell Phones - Location Based Ads Pushed to Your Cell Phone Just Around the Corner?

»  Wherify Wherifone - Cell Phone with GPS Locator Lets You GPS Track Your Kids

»  Your Cell Phone Can Be Used to Eavesdrop on You - Even When Turned Off!

»  All AT&T, Verizon, and Alltel Analog Cell Phones Will Stop Working after February

For additional similar stories check out our archives on Cell Phones, GPS, Privacy

 

48 Comments »

  1. The government would love to get this in every phone made just so they could track the whereabouts of every person without having to tattoo a number on every man, woman and child’s forehead or obtaining a prior court order to do so.
    You haven’t seen anything yet… just wait and remember where you saw it first.

    Comment by Kimo — 6/23/2006 @ 5:41 pm

  2. I heard recently, that the us government wants to
    make a law requiring all cell phone owners to have
    a phone NO older than 4 years.

    Comment by nexusone — 12/31/2006 @ 6:51 pm

  3. i would like to track my cell phone how can i do that?

    please send info to botanicaorula@yahoo.com

    Comment by SAD EYEZ — 4/18/2007 @ 8:59 am

  4. I would like to track my cell phone how can i do that?

    Comment by roberto — 6/29/2007 @ 12:07 pm

  5. my car was stolen and my phone was inside I would like to track my cell phone how can i do that?

    Comment by roberto — 6/29/2007 @ 12:08 pm

  6. my bag was snatched and my cell phone was in it. I would like to track my cell phone how can i do that?
    it’s IMEI # is 356682010371826.
    and my cell number is 00923465390994.

    Comment by Hassaan — 7/6/2007 @ 11:56 pm

  7. How do I find out if my phone is being tapped?

    Comment by Satish — 7/21/2007 @ 10:11 pm

  8. I lost my cell phone, I would like to track my cell phone how can I do that? Thank you!!!

    Comment by steve — 8/21/2007 @ 6:13 pm

  9. someone stole my phone.. and i want to get it back so badly… please inform me if u have some info on getting my phone back..zyphercon@yahoo.com thank you!

    Comment by Marvin — 8/24/2007 @ 5:20 am

  10. my cell is being lost. How can i get it back

    Comment by avila — 8/25/2007 @ 10:17 am

  11. My lost my cell phone. It’s a prepaid net10 nokia 1600. I don’t know the emei but got the number on hand 1-616-350-4601 Thanks!

    Comment by James Anderson — 8/27/2007 @ 10:02 pm

  12. i lost my nokia 6600 phone on last sunday. there is no mobiletracking software.IMEI no. 353766006489909

    Comment by srikanth pulluri — 9/20/2007 @ 4:14 am

  13. my bf’s cell got stolen, trying to help him out..please send a way to locate a stolen phone!!!

    Comment by miranda — 9/28/2007 @ 9:42 pm

  14. is it possible to find my mobile phone.

    Comment by srikanth pulluri — 10/8/2007 @ 2:55 am

  15. I lost my new D900i can you help me to Track it. I live in South Africa.

    Comment by Sibusiso — 10/8/2007 @ 4:04 am

  16. i lost my mobile while i was travelling by train . it was stolen at dadar station. i was having sony ericsson walkman 810i and other one was sony ericsson P990i. both the handsets was stole. i want my handset back. please i am xpecting a help from your side.

    Comment by JEETENDRA KARANJEKAR — 10/10/2007 @ 12:23 am

  17. our office is getting us the new blackberry 8800 which has the bluetooth map and gps option. do u know if the office has access to see where i’m standing at? i know that they bought the montiring package to look at texting and phone call usuage… i talked to a blackberry rep and he said blackberry does not put instant tracking for kids on the phone like some providers do and market torward parents.. thanks

    Comment by jeff — 10/22/2007 @ 4:09 pm

  18. i need help i think my girlfriend cheating on me if it possible with out her knowing that i can track her position i dont get to close to her cell it would raise a suspicion can u help me

    Comment by ish — 10/24/2007 @ 9:40 pm

  19. i need help can you tell me how to track location of cell phone

    Comment by faye — 11/18/2007 @ 5:05 pm

  20. my cell phone was stolen i think its in my room, can you help me? lol come on people, the tracking systems inside cell phones are regarded as highly secretive (yeah MOST people don’t know how to traq a phone) — in other words, i believe the only way to get it back is to contact your provider with a valid claim and all information. unless you know the right people.. ;)

    Comment by hmm — 11/24/2007 @ 1:56 am

  21. My ex-stole my cell phone and some other belongings how do I track my cell to find him. I do not have the cereal number but I do have the cell number is there a free web site I can use my cell number to track my cell phones location?

    Comment by Jessy — 11/29/2007 @ 8:41 am

  22. In order to contact me about the comment about my ex stole my cell… please e-mail me at cherry_wild_fire@yahoo.com

    Comment by Jessy — 11/29/2007 @ 8:45 am

  23. home broken into and they took my cell phone can you help track it please

    Comment by Rick — 12/27/2007 @ 10:51 pm

  24. lost phone.. someone post a link on how to find a cell phone online using GPS??

    Comment by kaylie — 12/29/2007 @ 9:30 pm

  25. my cell is lost.how can i get the location.please mail me

    Comment by bhagchandjain — 1/30/2008 @ 9:04 pm

  26. I have a friend who has been missing since february 9th. we are all attempting to locate him, but so far we havent had any luck. please let me know if there is a way that we can track his cell phone.

    Comment by Erica — 3/6/2008 @ 6:15 pm

  27. Has anyone knowes hown to track a phone without GPS,phones like Nokia 6630.Or just by cell phone number?ThX

    Comment by Mirko — 3/9/2008 @ 12:52 pm

  28. my cell is lost.how can i get the location.please mail me

    Comment by zaheer — 3/10/2008 @ 2:28 am

  29. I am trying to find my brother. he disappeared a day and a half ago. He was on his way home and never showed up. He had his cell phone and my moms. How can I track one of those? Please help. Thank you.

    Comment by Brandy — 3/10/2008 @ 7:43 pm

  30. Is it possible that i can use the same technology you using to track all house hold goods eg tv,dvd plays,laptops etc,am tired of not finding my stuff when its lost or stolen and agin this can help reduce crime in our societs.PLS HELP ME WITH THIS BRILLIENT IDEA

    Comment by benjamin — 3/13/2008 @ 12:39 am

  31. is it possible for any ordinary person to discover your location if they have your cell phone number?

    Comment by hi — 3/13/2008 @ 2:32 pm

  32. Hi! I lost my new Nokia 6300 and it’s my brother’s birthday gift for me almost a month ago. Can you please help me! It’s IMEI is 359544019821028. Thanks & God bless you so much.

    Comment by glcastromayor — 3/16/2008 @ 3:59 am

  33. does any1 know a website i can use to track cell phone whereabouts?? PLEASE LET ME KNOW ASAP!! THANKS

    Comment by Michy — 3/18/2008 @ 1:45 pm

  34. does any1 know a website i can use to track cell phone whereabouts?? PLEASE LET ME KNOW ASAP!! THANKs!! sopoolgirl@yahoo.com

    Comment by Michy — 3/18/2008 @ 1:47 pm

  35. can u please tell me how and where i can enter a cell phone number and receive the cell phones location…my mom is missing need to find her please help thxs..email troyz-toykrazenluv@hotmail.com

    Comment by angelina — 3/19/2008 @ 8:20 pm

  36. how can i track my blackjack II cell phone? I lost it yesterday and would really like to find it.

    Comment by kathy — 3/20/2008 @ 5:19 am

  37. i have lost my cell ph can u plz tell me hw can i trace my lost ph

    Comment by Ashwin Kumar — 3/24/2008 @ 9:51 pm

  38. How can I track my cell phone, I have lost 2 last year.

    Comment by Pablo Parra — 4/1/2008 @ 8:40 pm

  39. i lost my phone IMEI 35988601-817405-1 please trace it

    Comment by shaik yakub — 4/1/2008 @ 10:38 pm

  40. dear sir, hans raj here
    yesterday i had lost my new nokia 3250 m handset in delhi, kamla nager

    area,,, i am really worried to take this… i wanna to it very soon ,,,

    cause i really love my phone,,, plz can you help me to search it through

    imei no… is here 357933002810993 in the name of HANS RAJ, 16/623-I,

    BAPA NAGAR, GALI NO.18, NEAR MILITARY GATE, KAROL BAGH, NEW

    DELHI-110005contact no is 9250739369, 9899416020, 9899946430.

    011-25746430 … so please help me

    Comment by HANS RAJ — 4/5/2008 @ 10:01 pm

  41. i have lost my cell phone. is there a way to track it?

    Comment by landon — 4/8/2008 @ 1:18 pm

  42. Everyone - there is no way to track your lost cell phone. But if you plan ahead for next time, you can help yourself if this happens again. This site offers device tracking software:
    http://www.gadgettrak.com/
    other useful sites are here:
    http://www.bak2u.com/verey.php - which tracks laptops and devices.

    and here:
    http://lojackforlaptops.com

    Prepare yourself for something to happen with any of these products

    Comment by Joe — 4/9/2008 @ 12:54 pm

  43. lost mobile & how can it be treaked on line any sites for it

    Comment by umesh — 5/13/2008 @ 9:33 pm

  44. i lost my nokia n73m i have imei no. how can i trak it do reply.

    Comment by sam — 5/21/2008 @ 12:24 pm

  45. Nokia Model No: 6670
    IMEI No: 354330008166590
    Lost Date: May 25, 2008
    Lost Place: Banglaore
    Network: Airtel -Prepaid (Karnataka)

    Comment by Ravikanth — 5/25/2008 @ 12:14 pm

  46. i have lost my cell phone and would like to locate it. is this possible?

    Comment by kellli — 5/26/2008 @ 10:46 am

  47. I would like to track somebody and only have their cellphone number. I live is South Africa. Is it possible?

    Comment by Schalk — 5/27/2008 @ 12:56 am

  48. My e-mail for repky - sesterhuizen@oldmutualpfa.com

    Comment by Schalk — 5/27/2008 @ 12:58 am

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