iMessages

Written by Michael Steiner

Fact checked by Mike Druttman

Updated Aug, 2024

mSpy has a plethora of monitoring features but in this article, I'm going to focus on its ability to track iMessages on iOS devices. Did it work? Was it effective? Find out by reading until the end of this review.

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Why monitor messages?

iMessages are a preferred communication channel for kids because they’re free and offer many features beyond the standard SMS. While the platform includes strong protections against strangers contacting your kids, it can still be used for cyberbullying or by online predators who have managed to infiltrate your child’s contacts.

The challenge of monitoring iMessages

Apple has built a reputation as a company that respects their users’ privacy. It has consistently pushed back against government requests to create backdoors in its security systems so that law enforcement agencies can access data stored on criminals’ iPhones. This approach benefits everyone, but it poses a problem for parents who want to use parental control apps to monitor their kids’ device usage.

The main issue is that Apple locks down its operating system so tightly that there’s no way for third-party developers like mSpy to access iMessages directly from the app or the underlying database. This means they need to get creative when monitoring these communications.

How does mSpy monitor iMessages?

mSpy uses an indirect method: iCloud backups. Here’s how it works:

An iPhone regularly backs up data such as photos, contacts, calendar events, app data (but not the apps themselves), and settings to iCloud.
mSpy waits until Apple performs a new backup.
When that happens, it accesses the backup and stores all the new data on its servers.
You can log in to the mSpy dashboard from any web browser and view all the backed-up data.

This means you’re not viewing real-time data but historical information that was current at some point between now and the last time the phone backed up with iCloud.

This method lets mSpy access more than just iMessages; you can also view regular text messages (SMS), contacts, Safari browsing history & bookmarks (on iOS), and more.

iMessage details

Here are some details that I was able to learn about each message:

Whether it was incoming or outgoing
The name of the person who sent or received it
Their phone number
A timestamp
Any media attachments

All this information helped me build a context around each message to understand what my child was discussing with their friends.

The common question: is this ethical?

In my opinion, yes but to some extent. Parents have a duty to protect their children from harm until they reach adulthood and can take care of themselves. If you suspect that your child is using drugs, being bullied at school or online, engaging in inappropriate sexual activities with someone they met online or having suicidal thoughts – among other dangerous behaviors – then you need as much information as possible so you can intervene before something terrible happens.

Some people may argue that this method of monitoring invades children’s privacy too much because every human needs space where they can be themselves without fearing judgment or repercussions. I coudn't agree more! That’s why I advocate using these tools responsibly. Only activate them after discussing your intentions with your children and explaining why you feel compelled to monitor them. Show them what kind of data you collect and promise not to use any of this information against them unless there are strong reasons supporting this decision – like those I’ve mentioned earlier.

The bottom line is that it comes down to whether parents believe their children’s safety trumps their right to privacy – especially considering no right is absolute in any society I know about.

Do you monitor your child's texts?

If so, how do you feel about doing this? Do you believe it helps keep them safe? Have they ever complained about this practice? I would love reading your opinions!

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