Cell and cordless phones - eavesdropping?

Question

At one time it was possible for others to listen to your cell phone and/or cordless phone conversations. Is this still possible? I know someone who got caught cheating when he was on his cell phone in his driveway and his wife was going to make a call in the house and heard him. (oops) But seriously - are our conversations private on both cell and cordless phones - does anyone know for sure? Thanks!

Answer 1

yes, its much easier with a cordless home phone then a cell phone! you need a scanner...and only crooks will buy one...not the normal person...with cell phones its much harder...but its all possible if you have enough money to buy all the equipment needed!

Answer 2

I'm answering this ONLY from a perspective of listening in on phone lines, there is debate as to if someone using a cordless on an open frequency with no encryption or anything falls under this, there are specific laws at the federal and most states, but they are highly contested, and often not enforced. As a general rule, it is legal to listen to any unencrypted signal, cell phones get an exception because in the early days there was no alternative (you couldn't just plug in the cell phone and eliminate the wireless, where you have a choice to use a corded or cordless phone). Now for the "phone line" part of the law: Most states are what are called "1 party states", some are "2 party states", I "think" NY is a 1 party state but not sure without looking it up. All states fall into one of these catagories. What that means is that at least 1 party needs to be notified that the call is being monitored/recorded (and in a 2 party state, both parties). Why someone would do a deal like that over an open cordless phone is beyond me, but either way, it probably won't be admissible in court. However, it "may" be enough to get the police started on an investigation.

Answer 3

2

Answer 4

I really do think so, i have been having problems with either my cell or my home cordless phone, i havent figured out which one it is though, their have been several time while talking to my wife from my cell with in the past months to her on the home cordless mine and her conversations cut out and we could hear other people talking, wierd that i found this question, because i intend to contacting my cell provider and question them about it monday (tomorrow). and see what they say, but i really think its my home phone, someone told me once that you could have a cordless modified to listen to others calls, (like surrounding neighbors with cordless phones)<---never checked though cause im not that nosey of a person.

Answer 5

Yes it is possible to hear cell phone calls since they operate on radio waves, all you need is a decent Scanner. However, considering how people use their Cell phones all you have to do is be walking by to eavesdrop on their conversation.