Stalkerware: A Digital Threat to Privacy and Safety
Stalkerware refers to invasive surveillance apps that allow individuals to secretly monitor someone else's phone—often a partner or family member—without their knowledge or consent. While marketed as tools for "protection" or "parental control," these apps pose serious risks to privacy, security, and even legality.
Data Breaches: A Pattern of Insecurity
According to an investigation by TechCrunch, since 2017 at least 23 stalkerware companies have been hacked or have leaked sensitive user and victim data online. Alarmingly, some of these companies—like Cocospy and Spyic—were breached multiple times, with their users’ private messages, photos, and call logs exposed to the public.
Major examples of recent leaks include:
Cocospy leaked around 1.8 million email addresses.
Spyic exposed over 880,000 user emails.
Combined and de-duplicated, 2.65 million unique email addresses were compromised.
A Long History of Cyberattacks
Several other companies—such as mSpy, Spytech, and pcTattletale—have faced similar breaches. In one notable incident, a hacker breached pcTattletale, leaked internal data, and defaced their website, forcing the company to shut down.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) banned SpyFone and its CEO from operating in the surveillance industry. Still, some companies, including SpyFone and Spyhide, have resurfaced under new names.
Why Are Stalkerware Companies Targeted?
As Eva Galperin from the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) puts it, stalkerware companies often lack basic data protection practices, making them "easy targets" for hackers. She emphasizes that these apps not only violate digital rights but may also lead to real-world abuse and violence.
“These products are toxic and unethical,” says Galperin.
“Their poor security makes them dangerous to both victims and users.”
Why You Should Never Use Stalkerware
Illegal and unethical: Most countries consider unauthorized digital surveillance a crime.
Highly insecure: Even "legitimate buyers" of these apps face risks of personal data exposure.
Not safe for parenting: Instead of spying on children, use built-in parental controls in Android or iOS, which are safer and more transparent.
Final Thoughts: Choose Ethical Alternatives
Using stalkerware isn’t just a violation of others’ trust—it exposes you to legal risks and puts everyone’s data at risk. For monitoring loved ones, stick to transparent, legal, and secure tools built into modern operating systems.
Source: MedadPress
www.medadpress.ir