How far are we going with the legitimate use of surveillance apps? We generally agree that parents can download an app on their child’s phone to keep an eye on what’s happening on the phone, but a suspicious partner or ex can keep an eye on you that way is not the intention to say the least. However, the reality is that in recent years the number of stalkerware apps has grown to thousands of apps available mainly on Google Play Store. How is it possible that the number of devices infected with stalkeware increased with 63% and research shows that still 86% of the adults are unaware of stalkerware or have only heard the name?
Technology for pernicious purposes
Technology is a powerful and positive tool for many different things and makes our lives more convenient. However, the same technologies can also turn against us as there are people who use it for pernicious purposes. In fact, adults are globally asked whether they are / were in a romantic relationship and significantly checking their partner. The result is shocking: 34% of the participants admitted that they’re spying on their partner. Although these people say that it was out of curiosity, it is still invasive and abusive.
How does it work? You download an app on the phone of your partner / child / coworker (e.g. MobileTool, Agent and Cerberus) and you can change the icon of the app into a calculator or weather app so that the other doesn’t suspect that you’re spying. In the meantime, the app documents all messages, web searches, emails, locations and photos. Each app can collect different types of information, but they all work the same way: an abuser gets access to a phone of a victim and installs the app which is disguised as a normal application. The information gathered at the background is send to the abuser via email or downloaded via a website.
Protect yourself
There are several tool to protect yourself from stalkerware such as two-factor authentication before installing an app, looking for unusual behavior on your phone, updating your software and auditing your online accounts. But the best advice, don’t think that it won’t happen to you. Be aware that there may be people in your close environment whom you trust but have bad intentions and misuse useful technologies. We don’t have the best way to defeat stalkerware, but we definitely can do something about it. With that, protect yourself. Stalkwerware is closer than you think and these apps are proliferating.
References
Chen, B. X. (2021). How to Find “Stalkerware” on Your Devices. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/29/technology/personaltech/stalkerware-apps-protection.html
Norton Labs. (2021). A Year After Lockdown: Stalkerware on the Rise. NortonLifeLock Blogs. https://www.nortonlifelock.com/blogs/norton-labs/stalkerware-rise
