The FTC has released a blog post on “stalker apps” or spyware that can monitor another person’s phone. Apps which are being abused for this purpose may have been originally developed to monitor children or employees, or track phones, and these apps can track things like location history, browser history, text messages, phone conversations, photos . . .etc. Further, once the app is installed on a device, the icon can be hidden so the device user is unsuspecting/unaware.
If you suspect that a stalking app has been installed on your smartphone, the FTC advises the following:
- Confirm whether your phone has been rooted or jailbroken, which refers to a modification or weakening of your phone’s security measures to take control of the device operating system. “Root checker” apps can help you identify whether your device has been jailbroken.
- Please be reminded that it is recommended to only download/install well reviewed apps from known and trusted sources, such as Apple’s App Store or Google Play.
- Remove the stalking app by doing a factory reset of your phone or get a new phone. If you do a reset, do not reinstall content from your old phone or your cloud account as it may contain spyware. Consider backing up your phone first if you want to retain evidence. If you have questions on how to perform a reset, please consult your device manufacturer.
Signs that a phone may be jailbroken include, the phone battery draining more quickly, with no change in usage, unexplained data charges, or an inability to turn off the phone.
For more information, please see:
https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/2016/09/whos-stalking-what-know-about-mobile-spyware
https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2019/10/ftc-brings-first-case-against-developers-stalking-apps