What is Stalkerware and How to Stop It | Antivirus

Recently, the tech world has seen a small Stalkerware insurgency on smartphones; however, it is not clear exactly what "Stalkerware" is. What is Stalkerware and why is Android a primary target at the moment?

Let's break down Stalkerware, how to detect it, and how it spreads.

What is Stalkerware?

Stalkerware is a kind of malware that records data entered into a device and sends it to a third party which is provided to the program during installation. Stalkerware acts without the victim knowing that they are collecting their information; as such, it is an invasion of privacy and considered an unwanted program.

Stalkerware can track different types of information. For example, one can monitor a victim's SMS messages, while another transmits the target's location to the home. As such, the design of each Stalkerware changes depending on what it is designed to follow.

Isn't Stalkerware Just Spyware?

To people adept at malware, this may all sound very familiar. Stalkerware is a lot like spyware, a term that includes programs such as keyloggers and mower malware. What makes Stalkerware different from spyware?

The main difference is that spyware sneaks onto systems under the guise of a legitimate program and sends the data to an unknown malicious agent. Stalkerware, on the other hand, openly advertises its features to potential customers and sends the data to a user-supplied email address.

As you may have guessed, the Stalkerware is not intended to be installed on the user's system; they will just connect! Instead, the user installs it on someone else's device that they want to follow. This is the main difference between spyware and Stalkerware; spyware is downloaded by accident, while malware is deliberately installed on devices the user wants to track.

As such, the primary market for Stalkerware is for people who don't fully trust someone else. For example, a suspicious spouse can install an SMS reader on their partner's phone to make sure they are not cheating. Likewise, a parent can install Stalkerware on their child's phone to monitor their web browsing.

With all of these different terminologies going around, it can be confusing to keep track of all the cybersecurity terms. If you are having difficulty with the basics, be sure to study viruses, spyware, malware, and other online threats.

Stalkerware's True Intentions

As you can see, Stalkerware generally has good intentions; he is never there to hurt or rob people. The main purpose of the above apps was to monitor people and even protect them from damage.

Unfortunately, although the core of the app is in the right place, their methods are not at all ethical. These spy tools cause a massive breach of privacy and are the main reason why Stalkerware has the label of malware.

How Stalkerware Covers Its Tracks

Of course, these apps had to be discreet with what they were doing. If a user finds an application called “SMS Tracker” on their phone, they are likely to uninstall it.

As such, when the user runs the app, it downloads additional spy tools and installs them independently of the main app. Then the user uninstalls the app to cover their tracks while the spy tools keep running in the background. This feature makes it very difficult to know if your device is infected with Stalkerware.

How to Stop Stalkerware

The problem with Stalkerware is that it won't show up in your app list if you search for it. This is because the person who originally downloaded the malware has deleted the main app to cover their tracks. The "leftovers" of it are what runs silently in the background, tracking all of your data.

Unfortunately, if you are using an antivirus program that cannot identify malware, it will report a clean scan on an infected device. That's why it's a good idea to do your research and find an antivirus like complete security software that can attack the Stalkerware.

If you want to make sure your device is free from Stalkerware, a factory reset is the best option. A full reset will erase the remains of the original app and let you get your privacy back. It's more complicated than running an antivirus, but there's no chance of any leftovers lurking undetected in the background.

If a factory reset was too troublesome, be sure to read how to remove an Android virus without resorting to a factory reset.

Once you are sure your phone is clean, you need to lock your phone to prevent the culprit from reinstalling it. Put a strong password on your phone and keep it with you at all times so that it doesn't get re-infected.

Protect Your Phone Against Stalkerware

Stalkerware is a serious problem that can cause a huge breach of privacy of its victims. While there is no sure way to tell that it is installed on your system, it is easy to remove all traces and prevent re-infection.

If you need a decent antivirus, be sure to try the best antivirus apps for Android.