GUILTY NH - AH, 14, North Conway, 9 October 2013 - # 2

[granola]

All this talk about wifi and apps on phones reminded me of something. Recently, my 15 y/o asked permission to download an app to her phone called SnapChat. I refused to allow it. In researching this app, I learned that the user can send and receive pictures and text messages using this thing, and it leaves no trace on your phone, nor does it impact your message allowance on your cell phone plan. You can send and receive videos too. You set a timeframe- say, 5 seconds- that the message is visible on the recipient's phone, and then the thing just self-destructs and disappears altogether.

You would send a message/pic/video to whoever, and they'd get a notification on their phone that they have a new snapchat message. Once they open the message, it's visible on their screen for however many seconds you determine you want it visible to them, and then it disappears. They no longer have access to it.

I monitor my kid's phone and internet activity pretty heavily, and the idea that she could send potentially inappropriate messages and/or pics to friends (or worse- BOYS!! ) was something I just couldn't reconcile. I told her no way.

The app is really popular with her friends- and free- so I wonder if Abigail had it as well.

Most teens use it to send pics of their faces with words printed over it. My sister has been spying on our teen cousins' snapchat while I've been watching Instagram. (Someone has to!)

Inappropriate pics can be sent but SnapChat notifies a user if someone takes a screenshot of the pic. It cuts down on the bad stuff but still, it's not a great app.

I don't get why it's a thing. I think it's the stupidest idea for an app. But yes, Abby could have been using it... likely was, since it's such a big thing for kids right now. But would someone outside of the age of say, 20, really know about it and use it to target her? I feel doubtful on that.

 

[SCHMAE]

This case just makes me want to shut out the world, curl up with my girls and my Boxer, and forget the world exists. Of course, I know so much more is out there but to even consider anything like this ever happening....plus, our Boxer is the best napping partner!

I instantly thought of that when I read the comment about Abigail's dogs. It doesn't matter how busy you get in turning your attention to other matters, your Boxer will always act like you are the greatest thing since sliced bread, beyond any breed I have worked with (or conversely, how much attention you give them, they never decrease their love or excitement to see you, I truly have never encountered a breed like it before).

I wonder what four legged beauties are waiting for Abigail? :-(

O/T it is my favorite breed as well for all the reasons that only an owner can understand. There is a great fb page called ' best boxer videos' with pics from boxers all over the world, dozens a day. It really is a nice little boost !

 

[Plumeria5]

Does she have dogs??? Maybe the dogs got out of hand and made a mess inside the house when she did not come home to feed them and her mom thought Abbey was abducted upon entering the house.

Good thinking! Yes, she does have dogs. JY said in the press conference that they want to get Abby home to her mom, sister and doggies.

 

[Marbir]

Ah, but if LE logged into a Mac using the same Apple ID, you could see all your messages in the iMessages tab. At least, I can with my phone - any imessage sent and/or recieved from my phone or ipad shows up on my computer.

ETA And if I've thought of this, I surely hope that LE/SS/FBI have!

I didn't realize the iMessages were save to the apple id email account. I'm sure you are correct, but there are many 3rd party chat/messaging apps kids can download and use that LE or parents may not have access to or know about without the phone in hand... like IMO, Google Chat, Kik, Tango, Aim, Yahoo Messenger, Circle, Talkatone, Omegele, Snap Chat many more plus so many games that have chats built into them, Draw Something, Words With Friends, Dice With Buddies ALL HAVE CHATS and so on. Very many ways. Any of these could have been still used if she were still on WIFI and how would anyone know?

 

[Teche]

I walk alone and text a lot, and recently a security guard at work stopped me and in a joking way told me not to do it anymore. I listened.

Also, regarding the cell phone panic button: I was just looking for a new Kindle (sat on my old one) and the new Kindle Fire HDX has a feature called "Mayday" where you push a button and are linked to customer service immediately. They can walk you through issues, draw on your screen, and offer instant live support with audio.

I was thinking that this kind of technology could be easily adapted to cell phones. Push a button and get immediate help. With Mayday, the Amazon rep can't see you, but you can see him or her. This could be changed so that whomever was on the receiving end of the "panic" call could see where the caller was located and have audio chat.

I husband has a boat and often fishes alone. There is no cell tower close enough to provide service. He purchased a device called SpotConnect that uses GPS/via satellite. He pays a small monthly fee for monitoring called Find Me Spot. It allows to to receive preprogrammed messages to numerous devices (phones, email) to several people. Typical messages he programmed are: I'm ok, call Coast Guard, Medical emergency send AirMed. Each message gives coordinates and time. He's used it to when biking down country roads. We've heard that it can be used in the mountains too.

 

[granola]

I'm posting a lot tonight but I have to say, if LE knew her apple ID and could "replicate" her phone apps on a different phone based on what apps she's downloaded which show up in the purchased section of itunes, then could get passwords for those apps, it would give them a lot of data about her social media. I get the feeling they've done a bit of that as they have said they are closely monitoring social media.

I also think that Abby's abduction was likely someone she knew but might not have been close with, so I don't know how much that would help. :/

 

[trigger]

Wasn't that kind of the idea behind kids needing cell phones at all times in the first place...

I never cease to be dismayed by how rarely cell phones help in zeroing in on actual missing persons cases. Somehow, the phone is seldom a factor in solving a case or finding the person. Yeah, I know there are a few cases. But it seems as though there should be more.

I guess if the abductor does not know you have a phone, you could leave it on and hidden. But since many people who are taken possibly had their face to their phone when it happened...that option is gone.

Walking alone and texting= bad idea for so many reasons

JMO

Or a reward, sadly

 

[granola]

I didn't realize the iMessages were save to the apple id email account. I'm sure you are correct, but there are many 3rd party chat/messaging apps kids can download and use that LE or parents may not have access to or know about without the phone in hand... like IMO, Google Chat, Kik, Tango, Aim, Yahoo Messenger, Circle, Talkatone, Omegele, Snap Chat many more plus so many games that have chats built into them, Draw Something, Words With Friends, Dice With Buddies ALL HAVE CHATS and so on. Very many ways. Any of these could have been still used if she were still on WIFI and how would anyone know?

That's a good point. Some of those apps save chats, but many may not.

 

[sreshowtime]

does anyone know if Abigail is friends with any auto mechanics?
Does she walk past any car repair(engines) businesses?

 

[CMac2]

But would someone outside of the age of say, 20, really know about it and use it to target her? I feel doubtful on that.

A random person? No. But I don't think this was a random stranger abduction. I think it was someone who knows her, knows a lot about her, and used that knowledge to gain her trust. What better way to gain a teen's trust than communicating with her on her level, her language, using her method?

Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk 2

 

[DanaK]

does anyone know if Abigail is friends with any auto mechanics?
Does she walk past any car repair(engines) businesses?

There are no car repair business on the route to/from school.

Those condos off Common Lane near SG are sketchy, never been in there before today. Lots of beatup cars in the lot, home in the middle of the day. Just sayin'

 

[AnjL]

OT, but what is the point of a site like ask? I just don't get it.

That's an easy one, it's another tool so that teens can easily bully and badger other teens...anonymously grr!

 

[MamaJoJo]

does anyone know if Abigail is friends with any auto mechanics?
Does she walk past any car repair(engines) businesses?

Pray tell, why do you ask?

 

[cluciano63]

Or a reward, sadly

I know...rewards seldom work. Holly has something like a quarter of a million dollar reward...Lauren S. over $100k...and nothing, in a couple of years. And I feel certain there are people who know something, in both cases.

 

[sreshowtime]

Pray tell, why do you ask?

i don't feel like quoting several post, if curious go back to my post @ 657 pg 27 and follow forward


let's just say I go hmm a lot

 

[MamaJoJo]

That's an easy one, it's another tool so that teens can easily bully and badger other teens...anonymously grr!

I completely agree. That site is so infuriating to me. While it can be kind of cute and innocuous when kids are young (let's say 11) it becomes filled with ratings (how pretty/ugly people think you are), tbh's, graphic bullying, all sorts of crap by the time boys and girls start really noticing each other (13-15). The very troubling part about it to me is that it can be done COMPLETELY anonymously. A person can post a horrible statement or question and not be required to identify themselves. The stay on "anon", as it is called.

This site was particularly crazy when HA was kidnapped (near SD, CA this summer). The entire nation of nut balls came out and saturated not only her account but the accounts of all of her friends. Some are still active, but it took a good month for most of them to disable their accounts. Even the victim herself was answering questions after she was rescued. SMH.

There seems to be a complete lack of understanding, let alone expectation, of privacy for young people today. I find it disturbing yet prolific.

 

[DanaK]

i don't feel like quoting several post, if curious go back to my post @ 657 pg 27 and follow forward

I read through it , I apologize but I dont see what you are saying

 

[AnjL]

sorry to just jump in, well... there is an odd post on that tweet tunnel about a month ago
below the cinnamon toast one
did y'all see that, better yet has LE? hmm given the situation?

That's the one that scared me too

 

[AnjL]

Hi - Some info about iPhones - The last contact with a cell tower at 3:07 doesn't mean the iPhone has not been used since that time. iPhones use both cell data and WIFI. 3:07 could be the time she reached a destination that had WIFI and her phone switched over and stopped pinging the cell tower. A destination with WIFI could have been someones HOUSE or a BUSINESS that has open WIFI like Dunkin Donuts or many others. Also iPhones send "iMessage" text through data and not just regular SMS cell texts. If a iPhone sends another iPhone a iMessage it is all done through data and the phone company would have no record of a SMS text being sent - just the data used. And if 2 iPhones were iMessaging while connected to WIFI the phone company would have no trace or record of it at all. The only record in these cases would be people coming forward and saying "I got an iMessage from her at such a time" and showing it to LE. Or finding her phone and seeing those messages. Don't know if I explained that well... but I tried!

Don't the iMessages still use data?

 

[October]

Don't the iMessages still use data?

Not if they're on wifi.