The number of users who encountered at least one so-called stalkerware installation attempt surpassed 37,000 in the first eight months of 2019, a 35% increase over the same period in 2018.
Woburn, MA –October 2, 2019 – The number of users who encountered at least one so-called stalkerware installation attempt surpassed 37,000 in the first eight months of 2019, a 35% increase over the same period in 2018. The findings come from Kaspersky’s new report, “The State of Stalkerware in 2019,” which looks at commercial spyware often used as a tool for domestic espionage. Kaspersky also found that the threat landscape for stalkerware has widened, with 380 variants of stalkerware discovered in the wild in 2019, 31% more than a year ago.
So-called stalkerware programs present the possibility for intrusion into a person’s private life. By using them, an abuser can access their victim’s messages, photographs, social media, geolocation and audio or camera recordings. In some cases, this can be done in real-time. Unlike legitimate parental control apps, such programs run hidden in the background, without a victim’s knowledge or consent. They are often promoted as software for spying on people’s partners.
In the first eight months of 2019, 37,532 unique users were targets of at least one attempt to infiltrate their device with stalkerware. In comparison, the figure for 2018 was 27,798 unique users. While these numbers are smaller than figures for other malware types (for example this equals only nine percent of users attacked by financial threats detected in H1 2019), it is important to keep in mind that, unlike most consumer threats, stalkerware is typically highly targeted. Stalkerware often needs to be installed manually on the victim's phone, so the abuser needs physical access to the device.
In addition, futher variations of stalkerware have become available on the market. In the first eight months of 2018, Kaspersky detection technologies spotted 290 potentially dangerous variants. In 2019, that number has grown by almost a third, to reach 380. This change was accompanied by the notable increase in the number of times Kaspersky products detected the software in question on user devices; in 2019, it increased by 373%, reaching 518,223.
Number of users targeted with Stalkerware in 2019
“When designed to operate in complete stealth mode, with no persistent notification to the device owner, this software gives abusers and stalkers a robust tool to perpetrate harassment, monitoring, stalking, and abuse,” said Erica Olsen, director of the Safety Net Project at the National Network to End Domestic Violence. “This type of abuse can be terrifying, traumatizing, and raises significant safety risks. It’s critical that we address both the availability of these apps and the use of them as a tool of abuse.”
"We have done a lot to increase the stalkerware detection capabilities of our products in the last few months, and will continue to do so alongside other industry players as we support the fight againststalkers,” said Vladimir Kuskov, security expert at Kaspersky. “But there are still problems to solve – for instance, to find and agree onadefinition of stalkerware that can be acknowledged by everybody in the industry. This would help distinguish such software better, and therefore better protect users from abusers of their privacy.”
To avoid being monitored by stalkers, Kaspersky recommends:
- Blocking the installation of programs from unknown sources in your smartphone’s settings
- Never disclosing the password or passcode to your mobile device, even if it is with someone you trust
- Never storing unfamiliar files or applications on your device, as they could harm your privacy
- Changing all security settings on your mobile device if you are leaving a relationship. An ex may try to acquire your personal information in order to manipulate you
- Checking the list of applications on the device to find out if suspicious programs were installed without your consent
- Using a reliable security solution that notifies you about the presence of commercial spyware programs aimed at invading your privacy on your phone, such as Kaspersky Internet Security
- If you think you are a victim of stalking and need help, contact a relevant organization for professional help.
To learn more about stalkerware in 2019, read the report on Securelist.com
About Kaspersky
Kaspersky is a global cybersecurity company founded in 1997. Kaspersky’s deep threat intelligence and security expertise is constantly transforming into innovative security solutions and services to protect businesses, critical infrastructure, governments and consumers around the globe. The company’s comprehensive security portfolio includes leading endpoint protection and a number of specialized security solutions and services to fight sophisticated and evolving digital threats. Over 400 million users are protected by Kaspersky technologies and we help 270,000 corporate clients protect what matters most to them. Learn more at usa.kaspersky.com.
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