Ferris Bueller Would Want an Android

I was playing around recently with Android's equivalent of "Find My iPhone,"  the “Android Device Manager.”  As I tinkered back and forth between settings on my Android and how the device showed on the online map I found something that should make all parents of teenagers sit up and take notice.

It's easy for an Android user to fake their location.

To activate this feature your child needs to access the Phone’s “Developer” settings and check the "Allow Mock Locations" option. Then all they need to do is install one of the many "Mock Location" apps that can be found on the Google Play app store. These can easily be found using the phrase "Fake Location," "Location Test" or something similar. Once installed, your child can grab the GPS coordinates of a library, school or other location and drop it in to their chosen app. As a result, the fake location will be displayed on the Android device and on the device manger website. For sophisticated Ferris-wannabes there are even apps that will allow them to plan a route and fake travel on a prescribed schedule.

I did this myself and convinced the Android Device Manager site that I was visiting my parents in New York. I also confirmed that a sampling of other free locator apps were also fooled.  So, if your child has an Android device, keep your eyes open for these apps that let you fake your location. If you're subscribing to a premium locator service on Android make sure it's not fooled by this simple trick.  You may think they are at the library studying for finals, but that may not be the case………