Muitos apps espiões são vendidos como "controle parental" ou "monitoramento", mas guardam num servidor tudo o que roubam do celular da vítima. O problema: essas empresas são frágeis e vivem sendo hackeadas. Desde 2017, ao menos 27 dessas empresas foram invadidas ou vazaram dados; oito fecharam. Ou seja: quem instala expõe a intimidade da vítima e a sua própria. Se puseram um desses no seu aparelho, os seus dados podem estar nesses vazamentos, e dá pra reagir.

Como o golpe funciona

1. O app é instalado no celular da vítima com acesso físico e depois some da tela, muitas vezes disfarçado de app do sistema ou de "controle parental".
2. Tudo que ele captura, mensagens, fotos, localização, é enviado pra um servidor da empresa que vende o serviço.
3. Esse servidor concentra os dados de milhares de vítimas num só lugar, virando um alvo apetitoso pra hackers.
4. Quando a empresa é invadida, esses dados íntimos escapam, expondo tanto a vítima quanto quem instalou o app.

Sinais de alerta

• Um app com nome genérico ("Sistema", "Atualização", "Sync") que você não instalou e não consegue explicar.
• Bateria e dados de internet gastando muito mais que o normal.
• Permissões estranhas ativas: acessibilidade, localização o tempo todo, administrador do dispositivo.
• Você recebeu aviso de que seu e-mail ou dados apareceram num vazamento ligado a um app de monitoramento.

Como se proteger

• Revise os apps instalados e as permissões (acessibilidade, administrador do dispositivo, localização): desative o que não reconhece. No Android, apps de stalkerware costumam se esconder aí.
• Rode um antivírus confiável; a maioria detecta esses apps de "monitoramento" como stalkerware.
• Troque suas senhas a partir de outro aparelho seguro e ative verificação em duas etapas, porque quem instalou pode ter suas senhas.
• Se você suspeita que um parceiro ou ex instalou e há risco de violência, não aja sozinha: procure a Coalition Against Stalkerware (stopstalkerware.org) e serviços de apoio antes de remover, pra montar um plano seguro.

Viele Spionage-Apps werden als "Kindersicherung" oder "Monitoring" verkauft, speichern aber auf einem Server alles, was sie vom Handy des Opfers stehlen. Das Problem: Diese Firmen sind fragil und werden dauernd gehackt. Seit 2017 wurden mindestens 27 solcher Firmen gehackt oder haben Daten geleakt; acht haben dichtgemacht. Heisst: Wer so eine App installiert, gibt die Privatsphäre des Opfers und die eigene preis. Wenn jemand so etwas auf Deinem Gerät installiert hat, könnten Deine Daten in diesen Leaks stecken, und Du kannst reagieren.

So funktioniert die Masche

1. Die App wird mit physischem Zugriff auf dem Handy des Opfers installiert und verschwindet dann vom Bildschirm, oft getarnt als System-App oder "Kindersicherung".
2. Alles, was sie erfasst, Nachrichten, Fotos, Standort, wird an einen Server der Firma geschickt, die den Dienst verkauft.
3. Dieser Server bündelt die Daten Tausender Opfer an einem Ort und wird so zum verlockenden Ziel für Hacker.
4. Wird die Firma gehackt, entkommen diese intimen Daten und legen sowohl das Opfer als auch die installierende Person bloss.

Warnsignale

• Eine App mit generischem Namen ("System", "Update", "Sync"), die Du nicht installiert hast und nicht erklären kannst.
• Akku und mobile Daten verbrauchen viel mehr als normal.
• Seltsame aktive Berechtigungen: Bedienungshilfen, dauernder Standortzugriff, Geräteadministrator.
• Du hast eine Warnung bekommen, dass Deine E-Mail oder Daten in einem Leak rund um eine Monitoring-App aufgetaucht sind.

So schützt du dich

• Überprüf die installierten Apps und die Berechtigungen (Bedienungshilfen, Geräteadministrator, Standort): Deaktiviere, was Du nicht kennst. Unter Android verstecken sich Stalkerware-Apps oft genau dort.
• Lass einen vertrauenswürdigen Virenschutz laufen; die meisten erkennen diese "Monitoring"-Apps als Stalkerware.
• Ändere Deine Passwörter von einem anderen, sicheren Gerät aus und aktiviere Zwei-Faktor-Bestätigung, denn die installierende Person kennt vielleicht Deine Passwörter.
• Wenn Du vermutest, dass ein Partner oder Ex die App installiert hat und Gewaltgefahr besteht, handle nicht allein: Wende Dich vor dem Entfernen an die Coalition Against Stalkerware (stopstalkerware.org) und an Hilfsangebote, um einen sicheren Plan zu machen.

Many spy apps are sold as "parental control" or "monitoring", but they store everything they steal from the victim's phone on a server. The problem: these companies are fragile and get hacked all the time. Since 2017, at least 27 of them have been breached or leaked data; eight shut down. In other words: whoever installs one exposes the victim's private life and their own. If someone put one on your device, your data could be in those leaks, and you can respond.

How the scam works

1. The app is installed on the victim's phone with physical access and then disappears from the screen, often disguised as a system app or "parental control".
2. Everything it captures, messages, photos, location, is sent to a server run by the company selling the service.
3. That server pools the data of thousands of victims in one place, making it a tempting target for hackers.
4. When the company is breached, this intimate data escapes, exposing both the victim and the person who installed the app.

Warning signs

• An app with a generic name ("System", "Update", "Sync") that you did not install and cannot explain.
• Battery and mobile data burning through much faster than usual.
• Strange permissions active: accessibility, location all the time, device administrator.
• You got a notice that your email or data showed up in a leak linked to a monitoring app.

How to protect yourself

• Review installed apps and permissions (accessibility, device administrator, location): turn off what you do not recognise. On Android, stalkerware apps often hide right there.
• Run a trustworthy antivirus; most flag these "monitoring" apps as stalkerware.
• Change your passwords from another safe device and turn on two-step verification, because whoever installed it may know your passwords.
• If you suspect a partner or ex installed it and there is a risk of violence, do not act alone: reach out to the Coalition Against Stalkerware (stopstalkerware.org) and support services before removing it, to build a safe plan.

Muchas apps espía se venden como "control parental" o "monitoreo", pero guardan en un servidor todo lo que roban del móvil de la víctima. El problema: estas empresas son frágiles y las hackean constantemente. Desde 2017, al menos 27 de ellas fueron vulneradas o filtraron datos; ocho cerraron. Es decir: quien instala una expone la intimidad de la víctima y la suya propia. Si pusieron una en tu aparato, tus datos podrían estar en esas filtraciones, y puedes reaccionar.

Cómo funciona la estafa

1. The app is installed on the victim's phone with physical access and then disappears from the screen, often disguised as a system app or "parental control".
2. Everything it captures, messages, photos, location, is sent to a server run by the company selling the service.
3. That server pools the data of thousands of victims in one place, making it a tempting target for hackers.
4. When the company is breached, this intimate data escapes, exposing both the victim and the person who installed the app.

Señales de alerta

• An app with a generic name ("System", "Update", "Sync") that you did not install and cannot explain.
• Battery and mobile data burning through much faster than usual.
• Strange permissions active: accessibility, location all the time, device administrator.
• You got a notice that your email or data showed up in a leak linked to a monitoring app.

Cómo protegerte

• Review installed apps and permissions (accessibility, device administrator, location): turn off what you do not recognise. On Android, stalkerware apps often hide right there.
• Run a trustworthy antivirus; most flag these "monitoring" apps as stalkerware.
• Change your passwords from another safe device and turn on two-step verification, because whoever installed it may know your passwords.
• If you suspect a partner or ex installed it and there is a risk of violence, do not act alone: reach out to the Coalition Against Stalkerware (stopstalkerware.org) and support services before removing it, to build a safe plan.

Beaucoup d'applis espionnes sont vendues comme "contrôle parental" ou "surveillance", mais elles stockent sur un serveur tout ce qu'elles volent au téléphone de la victime. Le problème : ces entreprises sont fragiles et se font pirater en permanence. Depuis 2017, au moins 27 d'entre elles ont été compromises ou ont laissé fuiter des données ; huit ont fermé. Autrement dit : celui qui en installe une expose la vie privée de la victime et la sienne. Si on en a mis une sur votre appareil, vos données pourraient se trouver dans ces fuites, et vous pouvez réagir.

Comment l'arnaque fonctionne

1. The app is installed on the victim's phone with physical access and then disappears from the screen, often disguised as a system app or "parental control".
2. Everything it captures, messages, photos, location, is sent to a server run by the company selling the service.
3. That server pools the data of thousands of victims in one place, making it a tempting target for hackers.
4. When the company is breached, this intimate data escapes, exposing both the victim and the person who installed the app.

Signaux d'alerte

• An app with a generic name ("System", "Update", "Sync") that you did not install and cannot explain.
• Battery and mobile data burning through much faster than usual.
• Strange permissions active: accessibility, location all the time, device administrator.
• You got a notice that your email or data showed up in a leak linked to a monitoring app.

Comment te protéger

• Review installed apps and permissions (accessibility, device administrator, location): turn off what you do not recognise. On Android, stalkerware apps often hide right there.
• Run a trustworthy antivirus; most flag these "monitoring" apps as stalkerware.
• Change your passwords from another safe device and turn on two-step verification, because whoever installed it may know your passwords.
• If you suspect a partner or ex installed it and there is a risk of violence, do not act alone: reach out to the Coalition Against Stalkerware (stopstalkerware.org) and support services before removing it, to build a safe plan.

Molte app spia sono vendute come "controllo parentale" o "monitoraggio", ma salvano su un server tutto ciò che rubano dal telefono della vittima. Il problema: queste aziende sono fragili e vengono violate di continuo. Dal 2017, almeno 27 di esse sono state violate o hanno fatto trapelare dati; otto hanno chiuso. In altre parole: chi ne installa una espone l'intimità della vittima e la propria. Se ne hanno messa una sul tuo dispositivo, i tuoi dati potrebbero essere in quei leak, e puoi reagire.

Come funziona la truffa

1. The app is installed on the victim's phone with physical access and then disappears from the screen, often disguised as a system app or "parental control".
2. Everything it captures, messages, photos, location, is sent to a server run by the company selling the service.
3. That server pools the data of thousands of victims in one place, making it a tempting target for hackers.
4. When the company is breached, this intimate data escapes, exposing both the victim and the person who installed the app.

Segnali d'allarme

• An app with a generic name ("System", "Update", "Sync") that you did not install and cannot explain.
• Battery and mobile data burning through much faster than usual.
• Strange permissions active: accessibility, location all the time, device administrator.
• You got a notice that your email or data showed up in a leak linked to a monitoring app.

Come proteggerti

• Review installed apps and permissions (accessibility, device administrator, location): turn off what you do not recognise. On Android, stalkerware apps often hide right there.
• Run a trustworthy antivirus; most flag these "monitoring" apps as stalkerware.
• Change your passwords from another safe device and turn on two-step verification, because whoever installed it may know your passwords.
• If you suspect a partner or ex installed it and there is a risk of violence, do not act alone: reach out to the Coalition Against Stalkerware (stopstalkerware.org) and support services before removing it, to build a safe plan.