What Is Stalkerware and What Can You Do About It?

Stalkerware is monitoring software that someone installs on your phone, tablet, or computer — usually without your knowledge — to secretly track your location, messages, calls, photos, and online activity. If you suspect it's on your device, the safest approach is to avoid tipping off the person who may have installed it, get a safe device to research your options, and consider reaching out to a domestic violence advocate before you remove anything. The FTC's Consumer Advice site (consumer.ftc.gov) covers stalkerware specifically as a form of technology-facilitated abuse, typically by a current or former intimate partner.

How stalkerware works

Stalkerware (sometimes called spyware or monitoring apps) is designed to run quietly in the background. Common capabilities include:

• Location tracking — GPS history, real-time location, or geofencing alerts
• Message and call monitoring — reading texts, chat apps, and call logs
• Keystroke logging — capturing passwords and everything typed
• Camera and microphone access — remote viewing or recording
• Screen and app activity — seeing which apps you open and when

It differs from legitimate "family safety" apps in one key way: consent. A monitoring app installed by a partner who wants to control or frighten you is stalkerware, even if the underlying app is marketed for parental use.

Signs someone may be tracking your device

No single sign proves stalkerware is present, but the FTC and safety advocates point to patterns like these:

• The person knows things they shouldn't — where you went, who you called, what you searched for
• Your battery drains unusually fast, or your device feels hot when idle
• Your phone shows unfamiliar apps, or settings you didn't change
• Data usage spikes without a clear reason
• Your device restarts or behaves oddly after the person has had physical access to it

Physical access is the most common way stalkerware gets installed, so a partner who has had your phone — even briefly — is a relevant factor.

What to do if you suspect stalkerware

The FTC's guidance emphasizes safety over speed. Removing stalkerware can alert the person monitoring you, which may increase danger.

1. Don't confront the person or immediately delete the app if you're in an unsafe situation. Abusers sometimes escalate when they lose access.
2. Use a safe device — a friend's phone, a library computer, or a new device the person doesn't know about — to research and get help.
3. Contact a domestic violence advocate before taking technical steps. Organizations like the National Domestic Violence Hotline can help you plan safely.
4. Consider a factory reset or a new device rather than just uninstalling an app. Some stalkerware leaves hidden components behind.
5. Change passwords from a safe device, starting with email and any account tied to your phone or cloud backup.
6. Review account access — check for unfamiliar devices logged into your Google, Apple, or social accounts and remove them.

Reporting stalkerware

You can report stalkerware and related abuse to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Reports help law enforcement and the FTC identify patterns, even if the FTC can't resolve your individual case. If you're in immediate danger, contact local emergency services first.

The FTC also maintains resources on identity theft at IdentityTheft.gov and offers free credit reports at AnnualCreditReport.com if you're concerned your personal information has been exposed.

Key takeaway

Stalkerware is secret monitoring software, most often installed by a current or former partner. The signs are subtle — unexplained knowledge, battery drain, unfamiliar apps — and the response should prioritize your physical safety over quickly removing the software. Use a safe device, talk to an advocate, and report to the FTC when it's safe to do so.