How to GPS Tracks a Cell Phone?

Have you ever wondered how to track a cell phone? Perhaps you worry that someone may be tracking your mobile. With the advancements and large strides in cellular technology, we already know we are being tracked. Obviously a mobile phone company knows exactly where you are at all times. Well, at least they know where your cellphone is. Apple, Inc was scrutinized by the media for tracking and keeping a record of all iPhone users. Many people feared they were being followed on their phone due to that privacy breach by Apple.

Tracking a mobile device is accomplished via the use of a global positioning system, or better known as GPS.

A GPS or GPRS can easily track any mobile. Phone applications have reached the technological point where GPS tracks your every move. Your phone connects directly to the satellite and beams back to you your location. If you want to track a cellular device, simply install the software. The software is meant to track a cell phone that has been lost or stolen. If you track someone else's mobile, it may be illegal. At the very least, most would call it unethical. (But law enforcers do that, sometimes even crossing the lines.)

If you want to track a cellular phone, first of all you will need to buy one with GPS tracker enabled. About 80% of phones on the market are enabled. You will need to find a cellphone service provider that allows for tracking. Specific GPS tracking plans exist, primarily intended for parents and employers that can help you easily learn how to track a cell phone location from your own wireless phone or PC.

You can also track cells online. These cell phone tracker programs are Sprint/Nextel's Mobile Locator, Verizon's Family Locator and AT&T's Family Map. Cell tracker services generally cost about $10-$15 per month, nothing to sneeze at when it's added to all the other costs of a mobile phone plan. Using a tracker program to track a mobile can provide peace of mind in the form of interactive, real-time location maps on your phone or online.

The program Google Latitude uses a tracker mapping program that uses cellphone towers to locate users who have approved that you can trace them. Other similar map-based mobile phone locator apps (most of which rely on GPS cell phone tracking) include Mologogo, Buddyway and Instamapper.

Before you start tracking a cellphone with GPS or a software program, you should consider the consequences. Whether you learn how to track your cellphone, or someone else's phone, by accessing your phone's location, you're allowing others to access your phone's whereabouts, too. You should therefore practice caution when using any type of cell phone tracker. Here's what to look out for when tracking a phone.

Be aware of the risks of trying to track a mobile phone. As Jeschke of EFF points out: "Location data from cell phone tracking does not disappear when you're done with it." In fact, she says mobile device location tracking can even be subpoenaed and used in divorce or custody hearings. She adds that it's not hard to imagine that cell phone locator services like GPS tracking and other tracking programs could be misused. For example, an abusive spouse may try to find out what domestic violence shelter his partner is in by tracking her phone. To protect against unwanted invasions of privacy, and prevent people from tracking your cellphone, Jeschke advises turning off the location services on your phone unless you absolutely need them.

To track a cell phone means to invade privacy. There are bootleg programs and illegal software that give you the full benefit of a cellphone being traced. These programs may have viruses or spyware. Just like a computer can be tracked, so can a cell phone. If you are worried someone may try to track your cell phone, you can turn off the GPS which is usually located in system options. If you are trying to track a cell phone illegally, then the consequences are possible prosecution for hacking. It Is recommended you stay in the legal realm, such as online services to try and track a cellphone.