People are always asking me how they can protect themselves from stalking, abuse, or harassment. Usually from an ex-partner. I’ve done lots of talks and presentations over the years on the subject of domestic abuse. This is a real problem, and I would like to write here about “stalkerware” and other ways someone can spy on you or intercept your communications or data. Many digital forensics companies do not like to investigate these incidents. The reason being that individuals generally do not have the financial resources to cover the costs. But not me, my goal is to help people and I will do whatever I can to work with clients and help them look for solutions. Especially vulnerable clients, who may be wondering ”is my phone infected with stalkerware?”
So, what is stalkerware? I recently saw an interesting TED talk by Eva Galperin of the Electronic Frontier Foundation where she explains it very well. You can view her TED talk here. She wrote a blog recently about how the Federal Trade Commission banned stalkerware SpyFone. She was also involved in the creation of the Coalition Against Stalkerware. There are many articles online on the subject. I found one by Wired Magazine with instructions on how to check for stalkerware. Remember to check for updates or new articles as the instructions are only as up-to-date as the article’s publishing date. Always check the publishing date.
Just recently, a client asked me to check her iPhone because the camera light was on (orange) when she was making calls but not using the camera. A quick check online would have informed her that with an iPhone, orange light means microphone is being used, and green light means camera. The reality is that it is very hard to “hack” a mobile device, but it is always possible. Sometimes it may seem like your mobile was hacked but often it is simply that the other party has your passwords. Make sure you change your passwords for iTunes, Google, emails, etc… and enable 2FA (two factor authentication). This alone will solve many problems.
Some spyware, such as Pegasus, are very sophisticated and hard to detect. That being said, they are very costly and are advertised as only being available to Governments for purchase. They were created to help governments fight terrorism. If you are infected with Pegasus, you probably have bigger problems than a difficult ex-partner or stalker!
Finally, there is an interesting article here about how some technology “features” can be used to spy on you. For example, “find my friend” apps can actually be used to track you if you have a falling out with your “friend”. Be careful of small devices designed to track items and prevent theft as well. A very small Bluetooth tracker, meant to be hidden on your bicycle for example, can be dropped in your purse without your knowledge! Check out this news story from NBC on how AirTags can be used by criminals top track you. Someone had attached one to a car they were planning to steal.
If you have questions or you are wondering ”is my phone infected with stalkerware?” don’t hesitate to contact me on LinkedIn. It is the best place to reach me. There is no charge for consultations! Be safe out there.