(Click link and worry.)

I hide my phones (all three) even when I sleep!

Brennan

Perhaps it's time to get rid of my smart phone. In the mean time, I'm not going leave my phone laying around unattended. Thanks for the heads-up.

Indeed, for a long time now cell phones have also had GPS built in that can be queried; though it is not yet ubiquitous.

Please notice that the article implicated "smart phones."

I have a smart phone for work -- hey, if the boss wants to pay, that's okay. But my *personal* phone is an extremely bare-bones model. This is what I would recommend as it stymies such attacks.

Naturally, it would be incredibly rude to bring a cell phone to an appointment with a provider anyway; so I'd recommend against that!

a provider getting hold of your phone.  Personally, I would never consider even touching a client's phone.  Why would I need to anyway?

The one you need to worry about is your SO!  Guard your hobby phone and your email address diligently!

It's not the provider I'm worried about. Most providers are so busy during the time a client is present that it's absolutely nothing to worry about.

What I mean is that, since phones can be easily tracked by government-mandated GPS transmitters; you shouldn't bring a phone to anywhere you are not supposed to be. Your boss, girlfriend or whoever can EASILY just register your phone with google maps and watch wherever you are, day or night. Bringing the phone with you is a bad idea! And that is for a simple phone.

And with a smart phone -- well, how would you feel about a client surreptitiously recording your session? Well, he could be doing that without even knowing with some of this phone spyware!

I say: never bring a phone to a session unless you are a heart surgeon and on-call. Not only are the risks higher than most people think, but it is, in fact, very rude to bring a distraction like a cellphone into an intimate setting.

So I wasn't trying to implicate providers in any way!

offering some good advice.  

Hugs, Betty xoxo

A friend of mine was tracked by his GPS in his car.  The records were presented in his divorce and she got it all, house, car, cash.  Sad thing he is too broke to even go on a regular date, so the hobby is out of the question

Get yourself a hobby phone.  throw it out evey 60 days and your done.

No, technology has provided the PROOF of the behaviors that led to the divorces.

What I use for my computer, by the way, is a bit advanced but essentially impenetrable.

All "hobby" activity is done on Knoppix on a removable bootable thumb drive. The "Home" directory, which is a partition on the thumb drive, is encrypted using a password two sentences long. One password boots it, the second mounts the encrypted partition.

No tracks on any computer it was used on. What few tracks exist, are on an encrypted thumb drive that would take the NSA several years to crack -- and hopefully the NSA has bigger concerns than me.

This is just one example of basic security.

Throwaway cell phones (that are NEVER recharged using a credit card or debit card) are also good; especially since they are usually the very cheapest models and unable to be bugged except by government. (And they can also, though, be GPS tracked; so definitely keep their existence a secret.)

It's rough what happened to your friend. We have a very biased court system to start with; and providing cause makes it even worse.

There is is product out there called Ultimate Mobile Phone Spy that is available commercially for about $70.  See attached link.  It will do all of things the article warns about.  What they don't tell you: if you disable Bluetooth on your cellphone and laptop, the software cannot be installed.  

As for spyware that can be installed remotely and automatically by opening a text message, that's scary stuff.  But it appears this is only available to LE for now.  

Getting a hobby phone just became more of a consideration.  

In the meantime , it is a good idea to take the battery out of your phone if you are going to bring it along.
I used to get people to do this. I also took the battery out of my phone during sessions.
The reason is the phone can be turned on by LE and they can listen with the speakerphone.
In the south we used soundproof boxes and required that all items go into the box including watches, jewelry, phones, belts, shoes.
LOL
We don't need more heat like they have in Arizona.
Now guys start leaving your number with the messages since it will be going straight to voicemail!!

between the sad story of your friend, the post below (http://www.theeroticreview.com/discussion_boards/viewmsg.asp?MessageID=317661&boardID=12&page=1), or even public stories like Eliot Spitzer, it just goes to show that one can never take too many precautions, be too paranoid, or have enough back-up plans as necessary.

I know that you can't plan for every contingency, and there is a certain point where you have reveal a little of yourself in order to engage in the hobby (either because of the screening process - or even when you provide a credit card number to purchase a TER VIP membership), but it just goes to show that you really need to be careful when engaging in the hobby (for both the hobbyist and the provider).

I'm sure many of us have had our close calls and other scares.  Having said all this, I also think that the "thrill" associated with getting caught or indulging in this illicit activity probably contributes to many of us engaging in this hobby.  I guess the key is to not have that "thrill" overwhelm your better sense and you need to know when to do it and when not to do it (like everything else in life I suppose).

so those listening in can't understand what we say.

Nice idea but bluejacking doesn't work.  Google the product.  

a couple years ago, a hacker (or hackers) tried to demonstrate the vulnerability of bluetooth, so they created a quick program to show people that there is definitely a security threat because you can hack into a phone when bluetooth is enabled. There have been a few names such as Bloover, Blue Jack, Blue Spy, and more attached to this project, but in the end, its all the same. The vulnerability was indeed shown to exist, and since then, almost every single cell phone vendor has closed this loop hole and it no longer exists. However, for some strange reason, you can still use it on some Sony devices. Not sure why, but perhaps they have not yet upgraded their bluetooth protocols on all their phones.

In any event a bluetooth hack requires the phones be paired. That means they have to be within 30  feet of each other

do not intend to cheat.  When I was maried, I had every intention to stay faithful and you do not know these things.  For him, he met some girl at a club and never thought to be safe.  He should have hobbied instead and join this board .
If I was married or had a SO, I can read want you just posted and others about fake e-maisl, hobby phones but there is one big difference.  Our ladies (providers) are just as "safe" in helping us stay secretive.  In his case, the other woman came to court and testified against him.

I think all states should be no-fault divorces or community property states - in that case you lose just half.

if I can't take my "comm belt" to an appointment!  LOL  One of my fondest memories with a former provider is related to comm going off during a session.  Yep, I'm screwed, I better not go to the Baltimore area anymore.  

What about Bluebugging?  The product I referred to mentions this.  Could this product be downloaded to a BT enabled device within range without the victims knowledge, and thereafter be used for spying purposes, again without the victims knowledge?  Very uncool if so...

All I could find on Knoppix is their downloadable Linus, or something like that.

A lot of good points here...  don't forget the EZpass toll devise...  records can prove you were somewhere you weren't supposed to be.  If the SO is that suspicious, you're probably screwed anyway...  but why prove it for them?
skb

we'd all have to learn english again.... it's a no win situation...