Shop eBay, for Your Mobile Spyware Needs

If you search for "spyware" on eBay you'll find a host of PC spyware prevention products. Search for "bluetooth spy software," though and you'll find a ton of actual mobile spyware products.

In and of itself, the software is not illegal, but using it without the proper legal authorization is. And the software, none of it above $10 in the search above, can be used in a variety of ways.

For example, this auction says you can do the following with their product:

• View contact numbers and call lists.
• Read or transfer text messages (SMS).
• Read, phone book entries, look at pictures, etc.
• Set the target phone to call your phone when incoming calls are received. (The target phone does not have to be in Bluetooth range for call forwarding and the target will have no idea you are listening in)
• Send messages to the target phone or initiate a voice call.
• Make calls via the target phone.
• Using the magic of bluetooth, this software enables you to connect to other mobile phones without the owner knowing a thing.
• You can set the options to ring your phone when they make a call ... And they will have no idea you are listening in from your own mobile.

It also says, "This software is only to be used for fun and you should always get permission before using this software on someones else's phone." And of course, this is how they get around any legal issues.

This other auction says (along with a similar list of functions as above):

With our Pro-Edition Software you can now easily find out who your partner, business associates, friends have been in contact with. whether you are suspicious of an affair, or would just like information that will help progress your career. You can now do all of the following using your mobile phone, and the person you are targetting will not suspect a thing. Guaranteed!

The Mata Hari-ish picture above comes from that second auction, BTW.

Once again the question arises, should eBay be responsible for policing its auctions? In general, eBay will remove auctions if an alert is raised by user(s), but for a site as large as eBay, trying to police all their auctions would be nearly impossible.