How can I monitor my son's SMS messages without him knowing I have ipone 4S he had 5S both on same account

You cannot if he has his own AppleID and uses that for iMessaging and won't tell you his password. That effectively gives him his own password protected and private iMessage account.

SMS has nothing to do with Apple and is through your carrier and tied to the phone number. If you share the same iCloud account (I.e. use the same AppleID for iCloud) that has nothing to do with messaging. Apple's iMessage system uses its own accounts tied to an AppleID that are independent of iCloud accounts.

Your carrier may be able to provide you with some controls over SMS messaging. However, it's not going to include the ability to view the messages themselves. And, unless you're able to put restrictions on your son's phone to prevent him from downloading apps, he can also install messaging apps such as WhatsApp, Line, FaceBook Messenger on the phone.

If you're paying for the phone, if you have proof of original ownership, you can take the phone to Apple and have them remove the Apple ID. I suspect it will result in the loss of all the data on the phone. Perhaps if you explain that to your son, he'll decide he wants to give you the information. You might also tell him that, if he fails to obey the rules you set, you will have the phone turned off.

Just ask for his assistance and look through his texts.

I don't think you'd want to monitor them without him knowing unless you reaaaaaaaaaaally don't respect / trust your son. How could you explain that you know about anything without disclosing that you'd been monitoring his texts? He would be bound to find out at one point or another unless your kid is like five or something.

stokespoint wrote:

Stop paying is not going to tell me what is going on unfortunately. I want to keep it going for the information. I'm sure there is a technical aspect to this that is not common knowledge that some geek will know about.

You're talking to one of the largest assemblies of iPhone geeks in the world. If you have cause and you have an attorney, they can probably submit a subpoena (or the local equivalent) to your carrier for the information. You would need to submit similar paperwork to any other messaging service he was using, assuming you can figure out what he's using. However, there is no software you can install on an iPhone without physical access, voiding the warranty and probably breaking laws that will do what you want. And we can't help you do that.

"spectrum of coded messages"? Sounds like your IT person is spouting a lot of BS? If they are saying they can get to the messages without the password and/or jailbreaking the phone, or hacking the phone company, they are certainly full of BS.

stokespoint wrote:

Why is it that the internet spawns doubts about the veracity of normal conversations. All that I have said is true. I have no reason to diverge from that as I am simply seeking advice. The guy I mentioned is well qualified, and expert in his field as his employer who I know confirmed. So armed with that and as only a lay person myself I accept his expertise. So whether you think he has integrity or not I await the results but the little I have seen looks good

If he can do what you describe the FBI and CIA need his help. They have been complaining that they cannot get access to an iPhone's content, and they want laws to prevent Apple and other companies from making their devices so secure.

You can alway stop paying them. That should get everyone attention.

Please do be careful. It sounds like this IT security person might be leading you down a path that is illegal.

Not to mention voiding the warranty.

Or there is no IT person and this is one of those "nyah, nyah, nyah", I was right and you were wrong posts that have no basis in reality.