In today’s digital landscape, there exists a troubling segment of software known as stalkerware—applications designed to covertly monitor and spy on individuals, often by intimate partners. These apps are frequently marketed to jealous or controlling users who want to gain unauthorized remote access to someone else’s phone.

Despite the highly sensitive nature of the personal information these apps handle, an alarming trend has emerged: many stalkerware companies have suffered significant security breaches, exposing massive amounts of user and victim data.

Since 2017, there have been at least 26 documented cases where stalkerware providers have either been hacked or accidentally leaked confidential information online. Some companies have experienced multiple incidents, highlighting a persistent failure to safeguard the data they collect.

The most recent example involves Catwatchful, whose breach revealed private data of nearly 26,000 victims dating back to 2018. This incident followed similar exposures from SpyX, Cocospy, Spyic, and Spyzie, which left millions of personal messages, photos, call logs, and other sensitive data vulnerable to public access.

In 2024 alone, several major stalkerware companies, such as Spytech and mSpy, suffered high-profile hacks that compromised phone activity logs, customer records, and personal information. Other providers like pcTattletale have even been targeted by hackers aiming to publicly shame them, which ultimately led to the company’s closure.

The stalkerware industry often markets its products under the guise of “catching cheating partners,” encouraging illegal and unethical surveillance. This has led to numerous legal cases and investigations linking such software to domestic abuse and real-world harm.

Security experts warn that these companies are “soft targets” due to their questionable ethics and poor cybersecurity practices. Their negligence not only puts users’ data at risk but also exposes victims of illegal surveillance to further danger.

Historically, many of these breaches have been driven by hackers motivated to dismantle this unethical industry. Early incidents involving companies like Retina-X and FlexiSpy in 2017 set the stage for ongoing attacks aimed at disrupting stalkerware operations.

Despite these efforts, some stalkerware companies continue to rebrand and resurface, demonstrating the resilience of this problematic market. However, reports indicate that overall stalkerware use may be declining, partly due to increased public awareness and improved detection methods.

Nevertheless, the threat remains, as some stalkers shift to alternative technologies such as Bluetooth trackers for physical surveillance, expanding the landscape of tech-enabled abuse.

From a cybersecurity and ethical standpoint, the use of stalkerware is deeply problematic. It is illegal in many jurisdictions and poses significant privacy and security risks for everyone involved. Moreover, companies behind these apps have repeatedly failed to protect the sensitive data entrusted to them, leaving victims vulnerable to further exploitation.

Even when used legally, such as parental monitoring of children, experts advise transparency and consent. Safer, built-in parental controls on modern smartphones provide more secure and ethical alternatives to clandestine stalkerware apps.

Conclusion:

Using stalkerware apps is not only unlawful and unethical but also dangerously insecure. Their long history of data breaches underscores the critical risks these applications pose. For individuals and organizations prioritizing cybersecurity and privacy, the message is clear: avoid stalkerware at all costs and opt for transparent, trustworthy solutions when monitoring is necessary.

Source: https://techcrunch.com/2025/07/02/hacked-leaked-exposed-why-you-should-stop-using-stalkerware-apps/