Technological advances make it easier to monitor teen activities,locationBy Melissa Dahl -- Bee Staff Writer

Published 2:15 am PDT Friday, April 28, 2006Story appeared in Scene section, Page J1

Maybe parents don't really have eyes in the backs of their heads, butan increasing number of monitoring devices means they can have eyesalmost anywhere else.

Right or wrong, advances in technology allow parents to track exactlywhere their teens are going and how fast they're getting there byusing GPS-enabled cell phones. And software is available to keep trackof every click on the Internet - sometimes without children knowingthey are being tracked.

Think your parents are monitoring you? Want to keep better tabs onyour kids? Here's a look at some of the gadgets that make it happen.

Sprint Family LocatorWhat it does: Find your family members on an interactive map displayedon your cell phone or the Internet. "Safety Checks" notify parents bytext message or e-mail that their son or daughter has arrived atschool, at home or any other specified location.

Stealth factor: The locator program requires the youth'sacknowledgment, and the youth is notified by a text message every timethe parent requests his or her location.

What you need: Certain Sprint phone models can download the program.

How to get it: Go to www.sprint.com/ familylocator or to a retailstore.

Cost: For $9.99 a month, register up to four phones with unlimitedlocation requests and 100 text messages for each phone.

Disney Mobile Family LocatorWhat it does: It locates kids' phones with GPS, and it also limitstext messaging, picture messaging and minutes used. Parents candetermine the hours of the day and the days of the week when kids canuse their phones.

Stealth factor: It doesn't send the child's phone an alert if he orshe is being located.

What you need: You'll have to buy either the Pantech or LG phone.

How to get it: It'll be available at www.disneymobile.com in June.

Cost: $59.99 for the model by Pantech and $109.99 for a model by LG.The cost for monthly service hasn't been determined.

MapQuest Find MeWhat it does: Locate friends and family through GPS and monitor themfrom the Web or a cell phone.

Stealth factor: Each user has to authorize the monitoring.

What you need: It's available on certain Nextel and Sprint phones, andon BlackBerry 7100i and 7520.

How to get it: Download it from findme.mapquest.com

Cost: $3.99 per month.

Teen Arrive Alive GPSWhat it does: Teen Arrive Alive lets parents view where their teensare, where they're going and how fast they're traveling, through theteen's GPS-enabled cell phone.

Stealth factor: When the phone is turned on and the program loads, ascreen appears that reads, "This phone is GPS-enabled and may betracking you."

What you need: For now, Teen Arrive Alive is available only on Nextelcell phones.

How to get it: Sign up on www.teenarrivealive.com. A representativewill talk you through the setup process.

Cost: $49.99 activation fee, and $19.99 a month.

Cat TraxWhat it does: As long as their phones are turned on, parents canlocate kids, the direction they're headed and their speed using a mapdisplayed on their cell phone or the Internet. They also can set up aGeoFence, and choose to be notified by e-mail or text when the phoneleaves that designated area.

Stealth factor: Parents could install Cat Trax without letting theirkid know, since there's no indicator on the phone.

What you need: Specific models of Nextel cell phones: Nextel i275,Nextel i760, Nextel i850.

How to get it: www.cattrax.us. Call (877) 229-2287 and set up a timeto send your phone to the company. They'll download the software ontothe cell phone and ship it back to you within 24 hours.

Cost: $19.99

Then there's the black box"Black boxes" hook up to the car's electrical system so they're ableto record not just where the car's going, but also how it's gettingthere. It records whether the teen's slamming on the brakes or gunningthe accelerator, and many are small enough to hide behind thedashboard. Some black boxes use GPS to let parents check the Internetto see where the teen's car is any time they want. If parents don'twant their teen traveling outside of a certain area, some products letthem draw a "GeoFence" on an Internet map, and they'll receive analert on their cell phone or by e-mail if the car leaves that area.

AllTrack USAWhat it does: This small black box (it's about the size of two decksof cards) lets parents track where and how teens are driving in realtime, viewable on a map on the Internet, using GPS. It also recordsthe history of where they've been. It's hooked up to the car'selectrical system, so parents can remotely unlock the doors, disablethe starter or honk the horn. Parents can set up a GeoFence and benotified if the car leaves that area, and it also records hardbraking, hard cornering and rapid acceleration.

Stealth factor: Parents can hide this little black box (it's about thesize of two decks of cards). It's usually installed behind thedashboard.

What you need: It works with any car made after 1955.

How to get it: Order it at www.alltrackusa.com.

Cost: $524, plus an access fee of $34.95 a month.

RS-1000 black boxWhat it does: This black box records any speeding and aggressivedriving on a memory card, which can be plugged into the familycomputer to reveal exactly how the teen was driving at any time.

Stealth factor: Since it's small enough to fit under a driver's seat,they won't see it, but it gives audible warnings telling the driver toslow down or quit driving aggressively.

What you need: You can install the black box yourself on vehiclesnewer than 1996; anything older than that requires hard-wireinstallation.

Where to get it: Order the black box at www.roadsafety.com.

Cost: $280 for 1996 to 2002 vehicles and $295 for 2003 and newervehicles.

SmartDriverWhat it does: It records speed, accelerator use, distance and startsand stops.

Stealth factor: This black box is small and doesn't include an alarmsystem for the driver, so it's possible to conceal it underneath thedashboard.

What you need: A model 1996 or later vehicle and a PC with Windows 95or later. It can't operate with Macintosh-based systems.

How to get it: Order it at www.smart-driver.com.

Cost: Buy it for $495 or rent it for six months at $49.95 a month.

What about safety online?When smaller kids or teenagers are off the road and back at home,chances are they'll head straight for the computer. Monitoring andkey-logging software, like these products, allow parents to watch andrecord whatever their kids are viewing online.

SearchHelpWhat it does: While the kids are online, parents can monitor everyclick of their mouse from another computer. The software can remotelylock the computer, automatically shut down instant messaging sessionsif inappropriate language is used, open or close a browser or changethe Web site they're viewing. It doesn't filter sites, but it letsparents watch whatever their kids are doing online as they're doingit. Stealth factor: They claim the only way your kid will know this isinstalled on his computer is if you tell him. What you need: Thesoftware is only compatible with Windows 2000 and XP. How to get it:Order it at www.searchhelp.com. Cost: $79.95. It can be programmed tomonitor up to two computers.

Specter Pro 5.0What it does: This keylogging software records everything the teen isdoing on the computer, such as e-mails and instant messages - and notjust their side - it gets the entire conversation. E-mails and instantmessages can be immediately forwarded to the parent. It also takessnapshots of the screen as often as once per second, and parents canlater play those screen shots back in a video format. It also canblock certain Web sites, but instead of a screen popping up sayingthis Web site is blocked, it's programmed to make it appear that thesite just isn't available right then. Stealth factor: Since no iconsappear once this software has been downloaded to your computer, it canbe installed without the kids knowing. What you need: It works withanything above Windows 98. How to get it: Order the software atwww.spectersoft.com. Cost: $99.95

SpyBuddyWhat it does: Also keylogging software, it records every keystroke,including both sides of IM (instant message) conversations, e-mailsand any changes made to the hard drive. Users also can set up anaccount on a ViewMyLogs.com account, allowing them to access activityreports from anywhere at any time of the day. Stealth factor: Thissoftware can also be secretly installed. What you need: It works withany Windows system. How to get it: Order it at exploreanywhere.com.Cost: $69.99 for the SpyBuddy software, and $10 a month for an accounton ViewMyLogs.com.

Cyber Patrol 7.5What it does: It records where kids are going online, when they'rethere and how long they stay. If they're supposed to be doing homeworkfrom 3 to 5 p.m., parents can block chat or online games at that time.And chat and instant-messaging systems can prohibit kids from givingaway information such as names, addresses or phone numbers. It alsocan block program downloads. Stealth factor: The program features a"stealth option," so kids won't know they're being monitored. What youneed: The software only runs on Window. How to get it: Order it atwww.cyberpatrol.com. Cost: $39.95 for a 12-month license.

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