Angry Birds, Words With Friends and Tetris are all fun games that can be uploaded virtually right at your fingertips. Smartphone technology makes it easy, but there are some apps out there that allow strangers to find you just as easily.
Nine-year-old Justin Fox is what you would call tech savvy when it comes to using his iPhone. He really knows his stuff.
"He uses it for school, church, everything," says his mother, Charlotte Minor.
Minor says when she got her son an iPhone, she got herself an iPad to keep up with the latest trends in technology. Lately, she's has been learning all about the app world. She's also discovered she could use that connection to keep tabs on Justin.
"That's his email and his email is attached to his phone," she said.
Charlotte says her son is well-behaved, but it's not Justin who has her worried.
"He plays sports. He's sometimes away on the weekend," said Minor. "You know the parties where you're like, 'Should they go or not go?' But with phone where you're able to track them gives you an extra sense of security"
The same method that helps Charlotte sleep soundly at night keeps others wide awake at night - wondering who is watching.
Conrad Green, co-founder of MyiPhoneMD, is tracking his wife, Anna, by using a software application called "Find My Friends."
"It will show you where she's going and the tracks throughout the day," said Green.
The iPhone app uses GPS technology and street-level mapping to show where Anna is and tracks where she's been and where she's going.
"As the day goes by, as much as you want to view where she's at or where she's going, you just open that up and reload the date and it will show you that new data point," explained Green.
To track someone using the Find My Friends app, the other person must allow you to do it by accepting your request. But there are some apps out there that allow people to track anyone they choose as long as they have their "Location Services" active on their smartphones.
"Say for instance you were interested in a business deal you have no grasp over," said Green.
ClubMZ is one of them. According to its website, it has implemented the same spyware technology used by law enforcement agencies around the world, including the FBI. It even claims to allow you to "legally" view someone else's contact list, their text messages and call history for $15.
"As they buy this piece of software, they are signing off that you fully understand that this is not used for any such mobile hacking or mobile data retrieval," said Green.
FBI Cyber Crimes Supervisor Tim Marsh says at that point, investigators have their hands tied.
"Anyone can write an app and there's nothing to stop that," said Marsh. "Once you download it, it does something malicious. Once it's on your phone it can view anything on your phone."
Marsh says the bureau gets involved only when a crime has been committed. It's not just the spyware apps you need to watch. Even common apps like one that links directly to your bank account can be dangerous if you use them in public.
"If you check your banking on your phone there it's probably not a good idea to go into a restaurant and use their open wifi to check your bank," said Marsh.
"I turn off my location services. I also turn off certain services that send data and usage information back to my carrier," added Green.
It can all be done under the settings tab on your smart device.
Charlotte says she has made sure no one but her can find Justin.
Special Agent Marsh says even with location services turned off, criminals can find ways to follow you. The only real way to make sure no one is on your tail is to take your battery out of your phone.
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