Is it possible to steal someone's text messages?

ballz2wallz · 07-31-2007, 12:50 PM

Is it possible for someone to access text messages on another person's phone and use it against them?

Isn't here a confidentiality issue with thep hone companies?

How hard is it for even the government to get text messages?

DosEquis · 07-31-2007, 12:53 PM

As far as I understand it, text messages live on the phone to which they were sent or sent from (sent items). Unless they were to intercept the message in the middle of transmission, i think they would have to phsyically have your phone to get to the messages.

Though they can probably tell when and what number you sent them and recieved them, i don't believe they could see the content of the message.

ballz2wallz · 07-31-2007, 12:58 PM

Will a phone company willingly give them out?

Linzyhop · 07-31-2007, 12:59 PM

my ex used to work for AT&T wireless. he said he could look at people's actual text messages if he wanted to, but he never did. I think a court order might be able to get them, but for your particular situation, i don't think you have to worry about it. he can't see what you guys have been texting without a murder or something big happening. your stuff is too minor to warrant it.

no worries.

DosEquis · 07-31-2007, 01:01 PM

Originally Posted by ballz2wallz

Will a phone company willingly give them out?

I would think that would be a really..really.. bad business practice. I could only see them do it if they were to get a court order.

ballz2wallz · 07-31-2007, 01:02 PM

Originally Posted by Linzyhop

my ex used to work for AT&T wireless. he said he could look at people's actual text messages if he wanted to, but he never did. I think a court order might be able to get them, but for your particular situation, i don't think you have to worry about it. he can't see what you guys have been texting without a murder or something big happening. your stuff is too minor to warrant it.

no worries.

He has them.

I think he has them illegally.

Linzyhop · 07-31-2007, 01:04 PM

Originally Posted by ballz2wallz

He has them.

he has what, a court order?

ballz2wallz · 07-31-2007, 01:05 PM

Originally Posted by Linzyhop

he has what, a court order?

He has text messages.

avsp · 07-31-2007, 01:07 PM

i think if you have bluetooth ppl get hack your phone & steal your address book & stored messages

i saw an article in a UK linux mag about it, but i've just thrown it away. IIRR it was possible even without you 'authorising' the bluetooth connection if you had the bluetooth enabled, like if you had a headset for example

Linzyhop · 07-31-2007, 01:11 PM

Originally Posted by ballz2wallz

He has text messages.

i'm thoroughly confused. did he take text messages from her phone or something? even if he has them illegally, he can't use them in court if he obtained them without permission.

ballz2wallz · 07-31-2007, 01:18 PM

Originally Posted by Linzyhop

i'm thoroughly confused. did he take text messages from her phone or something? even if he has them illegally, he can't use them in court if he obtained them without permission.

I don't know how he got them that's why I'm asking!

He got them without permission, absolutely.

But he brought them up in court today. I told her he can't use them cause they were illegally obtained. I'm hoping I'm right.

Publius · 07-31-2007, 01:22 PM

If neither you nor the other party to the text message authorized it, there is no way he could legally get them except possibly by a court ordered subpoena of your cell phone provider.

Unless of course the rules changed thanks to the Patriot Act. Hooray government abuse of power.

Linzyhop · 07-31-2007, 01:30 PM

Originally Posted by ballz2wallz

I don't know how he got them that's why I'm asking!

He got them without permission, absolutely.

But he brought them up in court today. I told her he can't use them cause they were illegally obtained. I'm hoping I'm right.

you sir are correct.

Publius · 07-31-2007, 01:33 PM

Originally Posted by Linzyhop

you sir are correct.

if it this is about the weapons charges, he may not be correct.

They may have marked him as a terrorist and retrieved the records via the Patriot Act, bypassing standard law statutes and requirements. Isn't increased police/government authority with little-to-no oversight grand?

ballz2wallz · 07-31-2007, 01:36 PM

Originally Posted by Publius

if it this is about the weapons charges, he may not be correct.

They may have marked him as a terrorist and retrieved the records via the Patriot Act, bypassing standard law statutes and requirements. Isn't increased police/government authority with little-to-no oversight grand?

Noooo, something else. My life is a Lifetime movie.

Angry ex of my girlfriend (well, divorce is still proceeding

)

I know I know, bring on the posts about how I'm stupid....

The Patriot Act is irrelevant in this situation. It's an angry ex...not the government.

Linzyhop · 07-31-2007, 01:41 PM

Originally Posted by ballz2wallz

Noooo, something else. My life is a Lifetime movie.

Angry ex of my girlfriend (well, divorce is still proceeding )

I know I know, bring on the posts about how I'm stupid....

The Patriot Act is irrelevant in this situation. It's an angry ex...not the government.

i issued the warnings. you knew what you were getting into. best of luck my friend.

but he can't use those text messages against you in court. he can get all pissy and bring the kid into it and make it worse, but he can't use them in court.

Publius · 07-31-2007, 01:42 PM

you're in court for something aside from the weapons charges? Or is your girlfriend in a custody battle or something and he is using them against her?

ballz2wallz · 07-31-2007, 01:43 PM

Originally Posted by Publius

Or is your girlfriend in a custody battle or something and he is using them against her?

Bingo.

Now he's claiming she's an adulterer and unfit to be a primary care provider.

ballz2wallz · 07-31-2007, 01:43 PM

Originally Posted by Linzyhop

i issued the warnings. you knew what you were getting into. best of luck my friend.

Dude, I've told you many a time, I know, and I appreciate your warnings. I was aware of what I was about to get into, and I'm willing to trudge through it.

I'm just wondering about specific issues. I'm not complaining.

Publius · 07-31-2007, 01:44 PM

Originally Posted by ballz2wallz

Bingo.

Now he's claiming she's an adulterer and unfit to be a primary care provider.

That's a pretty weak argument. Adultery is not a legal crime, and has no bearing on one's ability to raise a child. He may have had an emotional appeal to stand on if she was going out with a drug addict or criminal or something, but legally speaking he has absolutely zero legal argument there and no emotional appeal to the judge considering that you are an (as far as I can tell) upstanding member of your community (aside from the bullshit weapons charges recently).