can i access data sent/received over my home wifi?

brians_daughter

Basically my brother and i are wondering if it is

a. Possible
b. legal

to access data that is being sent over our own internet connections ?

To cut a very, very long story short we have major concerns (as does school) that my nephew is being bullied but as he wont say he is theres little anyone can do about it.

He's getting messages via some web based application (according to my brother) to his iphone that are seeming to really upset him. He is very protective of his phone which isnt like him. He used to let me play his games etc and a few weeks ago was telling me off for asking but now if you come within 5 foot of the phone he's squirrelling it away. I realise all this could be just teenage stuff but he's been running off from school and the messages my brother has briefly seen notifications for come from what could be described as the 2 school bullies (one of whom has freely admitted to battering another child so much they spent 4 days in hospital), hence us thinking its something more.

It really is a last ditch attempt to try and get to the bottom of all this, and i feel like a real sneak for even thinking it, let alone contemplating it.:(:(

Anyway could someone tell us if it is possible and legal and if its hard for us to do.

TIA
Anna

Cycrow

well, you could add your own router to the connection that will monitor all traffic
whether that data is easily readable or identifiable would depend on what it is.

without alot of technically knowledge, it could be difficult.

you would be able to monitor what comes via the phones own connection thou, so things like text messages and such.

Theres also the possibility that the data sent/received might be encrypted.

Theres no legal problems with monitoring your own connection

Im_just_careful

Depending on where you get your broadband from you may or may not be able to change router settings but if you can, try openDNS ( http://www.opendns.com/ ).

Start off by a free account and see if it works with your broadband. Some broadband suppliers have a similar DNS based blocking system.

My guess is the problem is around some form of social networking and you can stop Facebook etc. being available using openDNS.