Does someone seem to know everything about where you go and what you do? Do they have information about your calls and messages and social media posts that they shouldn’t be able to see? You could be a victim of “stalkerware”, a kind of app that’s a favorite of abusers for tracking their victims.
Stalkerware apps can be downloaded from app stores and installed on your phone without your knowledge. Many of them don’t leave an icon, so you don’t even know they’re on your phone. All someone would need if a few minutes alone with your phone one time. These apps send all kinds of information about what you’re doing back to the person who installed them. Stalkers can see:
- Detailed information about the location
- Phone call logs, texts, emails, and messages
- Private social media apps
- Photos
Some of these apps even allow them to remotely turn on your phone and record video, take photos, or record audio of what you’re doing? Pretty scary right?
Signs that it’s happening to you include unexplained high battery or data usage or your phone overheating. What can you do to fight back? Your first step is to always keep your phone locked with a password or PIN that no one else knows. That stops it from ever happening. If you have an Android phone, you can install malware detection software like Malwarebytes or AVAST.
Go into the app manager for your phone and look for any unfamiliar apps. Get rid of them. Or, if you want to be super-safe, factory reset your phone to take it back to its original state. Just make sure you back up your contacts, photos, and other important information first.
