One of the common questions asked today is; can Private Investigators hack phones? This is understandable in today’s digital age, where smartphones have become an integral part of our lives, and concerns about privacy and security are at an all-time high. 

In this blog we’re going to look into the capabilities and ethical boundaries that restrict what private investigators can and can’t do, what they will or won’t do, and to debunk a few of the myths that have grown up around this question of hacking phones.

If you ask Jacques Botha, owner of successful investigations firm King Investigators in South Africa, he’ll tell you that, despite being a full-service company, which means that no case is off-limits for him and his team, he does not hack any phone!

If you do find a PI willing to hack phones, best you know that he is definitely a fraudster posing as a private investigator, and you’ll be in for an uncomfortable, extremely expensive lesson, when you find that the evidence gathered is thrown out in court.

Can Private Investigators Hack Phones?

The short answer is no! Private investigators are professionals who are hired to gather information and evidence on behalf of individuals, businesses, legal firms, insurance companies and more, within the law.

With work that involves conducting surveillance, background checks, and gathering evidence through legal means to assist their clients in various investigations, it is of utmost importance for you to be able to distinguish between the legal methods employed by licensed private investigators, and illegal activities such as phone hacking.

If the private investigator you want to hire isn’t registered with the PSiRA, don’t touch him, no matter how much he may try to avoid providing you with his registration number!

Ethical Considerations and Legal Boundaries Involved in Hacking Phones

The team at King Investigators will adhere to the strict legal boundaries and ethical guidelines in their work, as set out by the PSiRA governing body. 

Not only is hacking phones or engaging in any illegal activities unethical, it is illegal. Licensed investigators like the team at King Investigators are expected to operate within the confines of the law and utilise legally permissible methods to obtain information and evidence, which is exactly what you can expect from King Investigators.

Phone Surveillance and Data Extraction

While the team does have access to specialised tools and techniques which allow them to conduct phone surveillance, and to extract relevant data, it is crucial that you understand that these methods are legal and they do require proper authorisation.

Only with the consent of a client can the team install monitoring software or perform a forensic analysis on a phone, in order to retrieve information that could be pertinent to a specific investigation.

There’s no such thing as hacking into anyone’s phone without permission. Any evidence or information gathered this way will be tainted and illegal!

Collaborating with Digital Forensic Experts

If digital evidence is crucial in a case, King Investigators will work in collaboration with digital forensic experts, as this is their field of expertise. 

Digital Forensic Experts have the necessary skills and knowledge to extract data from phones and other digital devices in a manner that is permitted by law. 

This type of collaboration on the part of the team at King Investigations gives you confidence in knowing that the investigation will be conducted legally, which will result in obtaining valuable evidence. 

Debunking The Myth of “Phone Hacking”

Contrary to popular belief, private investigators do not possess the ability to hack into phones. Hacking involves unauthorised access to a device’s operating system or bypassing its security measures, which is illegal and can cause you, the client, to face criminal charges.

Since Jacques and his team at King Investigators are fully aware of the legal and ethical implications of this type of behaviour, they stick to operating within the limits of the law, in order to protect their clients.

King Investigators Ensures the Integrity of Any Investigation!

As you can see from the myths debunked above, give yourself and your case the best chance at finding the truth legally by contacting King Investigators for a free consultation, before you end up on the wrong side of the law and lose your case!