Mobile Spy, first-ever spy software for iPad, requires a jailbroken device

May 6, 2010 14:39 GMT  ·  By

A company called Retina-X Studios, LLC has announced the first spy software for the iPad, Mobile Spy, a hybrid software/service that allows users to silently monitor an iPad in real time. Great for parents looking to keep an eye on their kids’ activities, the software allows users to silently view all email messages, website visits and other information. There’s just one catch: you need a jailbroken iPad.

“Mobile Spy is proud to introduce the first spy software for your Apple iPad!” an announcement on the company’s website reads. “This powerful monitoring software gives you the ability to learn the complete TRUTH about what your children or employees are doing on the iPad.”

According to Retina-X Studios CEO James Johns, devices that offer the ability to browse the Internet or send email can lead to unauthorized activities. The company explains that, “Mobile Spy will SILENTLY record a list of every website visited, every email sent and received, along with any Contacts added to the device. All of these logs are then sent to your secure Mobile Spy account which you can access from any web browser.”

A Mobile Spy user is quoted as saying that, “Mobile Spy is a priceless piece of software. After having some doubts about honesty, this really helped set the record straight and confirmed my suspicions.” According to the product’s fact sheet, activities are silently uploaded to the user's private online account the instant they are logged. Even if the Internet connection is interrupted, the logs will resume upload with the first chance Mobile Spy gets. However, Mobile Spy runs on jailbroken iPads. In order to jailbreak iPhone OS 3.2 (the iPad’s OS), device owners must employ Spirit, a jailbreak tool developed by MuscleNerd, a member of the infamous iPhone Dev Team. Learn more here, but know that Softpedia does not support jailbreaking.

“Please note your iPad device must be jailbroken for the program to function,” Retina-X Studios says. “This is because iPad is not able to run more than one program at a time unless it is jailbroken. This is an easy free process. The entire process takes ten minutes and is completely reversible.”

Softpedia doesn't encourage jailbreaking / unlocking the iPhone / iPod touch / iPad, or any other device. Using hacks may render your device unusable, or may reduce the quality of your experience employing the respective device. If you choose to download and install jailbreak tools, you will do so at your own risk. Unlocking / jailbreaking your iPhone / iPod touch / iPad may violate your warranty or the EULA with Apple and / or your cellular-service provider.