That of stalkerware, software that is installed on someone’s devices to gain access to a wide range of personal data without consent, is a rather widespread scourge in Italy. Already at the beginning of the year, a study by the computer security software company Kaspersky showed that Italy is the second most widespread European country, after Germany. Now, a brand new report by Kaspersky presented on the occasion of the Day against violence against women confirms that 6% of Italians admit to having installed a stalkerware on their partner’s device.
The dangers of spy apps: there is no love in violating the privacy of those we say we love
by Guido Scorza
In fact, stalkerware go hand in hand with abuse and domestic violence: to install them, in the overwhelming majority of cases, it is a partner, an ex or a parent who wants to control messages, calls, social media, photos and videos on the computer. or on someone else’s cell phone, in an act of extreme invasion of privacy. The installation does not require special computer skills: most of these apps are installed on devices whose password is known or that do not have one.
“Despite the obvious immoral connotations, from a legal point of view stalkerware are positioned in a gray area”, reads the report, presented to the Senate on 25 December in an attempt to encourage legislation that is more attentive to this issue. “Often, stalkerware apps operate under the guise of parental control apps or anti-theft solutions, which allows them to stay in the various app marketplaces like normal Android apps.” The analysis contains several other alarming data. 14% of Italians suspect that a partner has spied on them with an app and 24% fear that the partner violates their digital privacy. The digital information we are most concerned about are messages (38%), social media (36%) and emails (34%). In addition to the suspicions, there are certainties: 8% of Italians say that the partner has invited them to install a monitoring app. The number is much higher among those who have been abused (27%) than among those who have not been abused (5%), indicating a direct link between stalkerware and abuse.
“The use of stalkerware in the context of domestic abuse or partner violence can indicate that the abuser is a very controlling figure and, more worryingly, that the situation could escalate,” said Karen Bentley, WESNET CEO and expert of technological security. Those who worry are not wrong: 10% of respondents in Italy believe that it is normal to monitor the digital activity of their partner. To this percentage is added a further 16% of people who find it acceptable in case it is suspected that the other is unfaithful, for his safety or because there is a suspicion of involvement in criminal activity. “The reference to infidelity, in particular, exemplifies the nature of abusive and coercive control resulting from the use of stalkerware apps,” explain the authors of the report.
Almost half of respondents – 44% – say they would monitor their partner with their consent, 25% in the interest of “full transparency” in a relationship, and a further 19% of Italians in certain circumstances, for example for reasons of physical security or whether the monitoring was mutual. The results of the surveys show that many have a perhaps excessively relaxed approach to privacy. While everyone has different standards with respect to the information they are willing to reveal or make accessible to their loved ones, 54% of Italians share their phone PIN with their partner, and the same percentage say they know their partner’s PIN. For 50% of Italians (42% globally), it is also normal to share iCloud or Google login data with their family – thus making them more vulnerable to spyware being installed on their devices.
Kaspersky provides some pointers to understand if a stalkerware app has been secretly installed on one of your devices. One start is the mobile data that runs out earlier than expected, another the battery that drains very quickly. “If you notice any of these problems, it’s a good idea to be on your guard and check which apps are consuming your phone’s resources. Likewise, it is best to also check which apps have access to the location, ”they write. Also useful to check, on Android phones, which apps can access the Accessibility feature, which allows apps to access other programs, change settings and perform various operations – extremely useful permissions for stalkerware. Another idea to detect malicious apps is to use a cybersecurity solution for mobile devices, such as Kaspersky Internet Security for Android or TinyCheck.
If you detect the presence of spyware, it is better not to delete it: in all likelihood, the person who installed it would notice, in addition to the fact that they would go to eliminate evidence that could prove useful later. “As always when it comes to safety, the first thing to do is to take adequate protective measures. For example, if the partner you are being tracked by is potentially violent, it is best to contact a domestic violence victim support center before taking action on the stalkerware app. In some cases it is easier to completely replace the smartphone and make sure that no one can install spying apps on the new device, ”advises Kaspersky.
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