Your smartphone could be spying on you without your knowledge.
Across India, spyware apps are being secretly installed by stalkers, abusive partners, and sometimes even employers. These apps don’t look dangerous—they hide behind icons like calculators or notepads—but once active, they steal your private life.
How these spyware scams operate:
- Installation by Access:Someone close to you—partner, relative, colleague—borrows your phone “for a minute” and installs spyware. The app hides itself or mimics common tools, making it hard to detect.The app hides under a generic name and runs invisibly in the background.
- Stealth Monitoring:Once installed, it records calls, tracks GPS location, and copies your WhatsApp and SMS chats. Advanced spyware can switch on your mic or camera silently. These apps disable Play Protect, don’t appear in the app drawer, and don’t send notifications. Victims rarely notice until much later.
- Remote Dashboards:The stolen data is uploaded to online dashboards that only the stalker can access. From anywhere in the world, they can see your movements and conversations in real time.
- Commercially Sold Apps:Marketed as “parental control” or “employee monitoring” software, these apps are widely misused for stalking. They cost just a few hundred rupees and require no technical skill.
- Cloud Exploits:In some cases, abusers abuse Google Drive or iCloud backups, syncing WhatsApp or photo backups to their own devices. This gives them ongoing access without touching your phone again.
- Targeting Women:Police complaints show a pattern—women are most often targeted by partners or ex-partners using spyware to monitor social media, finances, and personal lives.
Real Cases:
- Indian Expressreported cases of women in Delhi who discovered spyware installed by husbands and partners to monitor their phones.
- Citizen Laband Amnesty Tech investigations revealed commercial spyware like Pegasus was used against journalists and activists in India, proving this isn’t just a personal risk—it’s a national security issue.
How to detect spyware on your phone:
- Sudden, unexplained battery drain or overheating.
- Data usage spikes without reason.
- Unknown apps in “Settings > App Management.”
- Google Play Protect or antivirus disabled without your consent.
- Background noises or echo during calls.
How to protect yourself:
- Lock your phone with strong PINs or biometrics.
- Never leave your device unattended or unlocked.
- Regularly check app permissions and uninstall unknown apps.
- Disable “Install from Unknown Sources” on your phone.
- Back up essential files and reset your device if spyware is suspected.
- Report stalking or digital abuse togov.in.
Spyware destroys trust and safety. Every user must learn how to spot it and act immediately.
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ABOUT ‘AKANCHA SRIVASTAVA FOUNDATION’
The Akancha Srivastava Foundation is India’s leading social impact initiative dedicated to advancing cyber safety awareness and education. Established in February 2017, this not-for-profit Section 8 organization is a trusted voice in promoting safe online practices across the nation.
Distinguished Board of Advisors
Guided by an honorary advisory board of esteemed leaders:
- Former Special DGP RK Vij (Chhattisgarh Police)
- ADG Navniet Sekera (Uttar Pradesh Police)
- ADG Krishna Prakash (Maharashtra Police)
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The Foundation is committed to educating, empowering, and building bridges between the public and authorities on critical cyber safety issues. Additionally, we specialize in forensics training for law enforcement, equipping them with the skills needed to tackle cybercrime effectively.