How to Install Monitoring Software on a Cell Phone

Parents worry about their children. When you see that your child’s school is calling, you can’t help but wonder if your child is hurt or your teen has skipped class. It’s hard to tell if your kids are being completely honest with you about where they’re going, who they’re hanging out with and what they are doing.

Installing cell phone monitoring software on your kids’ cell phones can help you keep track of them and make sure they are being honest with you. Several of the monitoring products on our site are software as a service (SaaS), which means that you pay a base fee to purchase the software, but may need to make monthly payments as you continue to use it.
Figuring out how to download, install and use the software might be a bit confusing so here is a step-by-step guide:

1. Choose your software. Look for features such as text and photo message logging, GPS tracking, call logs and helpful customer support. Make sure the software is compatible with the cell phone you want to monitor. It is important to note that almost all cell phone monitoring products can only monitor smartphones such as Androids and BlackBerrys. My Mobile Watchdog is the only software in our review that can monitor non-smartphones.
2. Purchase the software. Once you buy the software you want, you will need to provide billing information as well as the phone number of the phone you want to monitor. You will then create and register an online account.
3. Download the software. To download the software onto the phone you want to monitor, you will need physical access to the phone for a few minutes. The installation process will differ depending on which software you are using and what type of phone you want to install it on. You can find installation directions on the software’s website. To install the software, the phone will need internet browsing capabilities.
4. Monitor Activity. Check your account often to see where your kids are and to whom they’re talking. Some monitoring software lets you link your email and your online account, and it will send you periodic phone logs at time intervals of your choice.

It is illegal to download cell phone monitoring software on a phone that you do not own. You can legally monitor your kids’ phones if you pay for them, but monitoring your employees is a different matter. You can only monitor an employee if their phone is a company phone that you provide. In most states, it is illegal to monitor employees’ communications without their knowledge and consent, so make sure your employees know if you have installed monitoring software onto their phones.