Russia Leads in Number of Stalkerware Apps on Citizens’ Smartphones

According to experts, the number of stalkerware applications found on Russian citizens’ smartphones in the first half of 2020 was significantly higher than during the same period in 2019. Data from Kaspersky Lab shows that this figure increased by 28%.

Stalkerware—software designed for covert surveillance—has long been a topic of debate among cybersecurity professionals. While these programs were not initially considered malicious, more and more experts now classify stalkerware as harmful software.

Stalkerware is often sold through specialized websites, as official app stores generally avoid hosting such applications. With these programs, it is possible to view a victim’s media files and even extract private messages.

This type of software is frequently used by spouses seeking to strictly monitor their partners.

Unfortunately, as Kaspersky Lab researchers have found, Russia currently leads the world in the number of stalkerware apps installed on citizens’ smartphones.

The rest of the world is not far behind. In the first six months of 2020, the global number of stalkerware installations increased by 39% compared to the previous year. In Europe, users in Italy, Germany, and the United Kingdom are most often targeted by this kind of surveillance.