Cloud storage is one of the most useful tools in our digital lives.
It backs up everything—photos, contacts, chats, passwords—without asking much from us. But that convenience comes with a dangerous blind spot. When you don’t control cloud access, it can become a stalker’s most powerful weapon.
In this episode, I explain how automatic cloud sync is being misused across India, often by former partners or abusive individuals. These threats don’t need physical access. They rely on something far more silent—your forgotten logins and unrestricted cloud permissions. Once granted, that access rarely gets revoked. Even after relationships end, accounts stay logged in. Devices remain connected. And the data keeps flowing.
Here’s how serious this is. According to a NortonLifeLock survey, 74 percent of Indian users in relationships admitted to digitally stalking their current or former partners. One in four confessed to using shared credentials to monitor devices or cloud accounts. This means your photos, calendar, chats, and even your location can be accessed long after a breakup—without your knowledge.
In December 2023, Mumbai police arrested a man who extorted ₹17 lakh from his ex‑lover by threatening to leak private photos stored in the cloud if she didn’t comply indiatoday.in+1timesofindia.indiatimes.com+1indianexpress.com.
In 2023, India ranked third globally for stalkerware infections, according to a Kaspersky report. That same year, victim support helplines reported a rise in women discovering their private photos were accessed or leaked by ex-partners who retained cloud access. In many cases, survivors were being tracked through synced location histories or calendars.
This isn’t accidental. It is designed to intimidate and control. It’s a form of psychological violence that happens silently, through data most people forget to secure. The fact that a stalking case is reported every 55 minutes in India tells us what’s officially recognised. The digital side of this abuse goes mostly unreported.
Cloud accounts must be treated like bank accounts. You would never leave an ex with access to your money. Don’t leave them access to your digital life either.
Stay Safe – Do This:
- Check all devices logged into your cloud account
- Revoke access to any device you don’t recognise
- Change passwords immediately after a breakup or conflict
- Turn off auto-sync for sensitive data like photos or calendars
- Enable two-factor authentication for all cloud accounts
- Do not ignore activity alerts sent by your cloud provider
If this video helped you understand the risks, share it. Someone you know might be at risk without realising it. Subscribe to the channel and stay informed through expert content from the Akancha Srivastava Foundation.
Real-World Data:
- A survey byNortonLifeLock‑Harris in India found 74% of people in romantic relationships admit to online stalking, and 26% used partner credentials to access devices or accountseconomictimes.com+1safehome.org+1.
- Kaspersky’s 2023 reportshowed India ranked #3 globally for stalkerware infections, affecting around 2,492 userscom.
- According to Indian police data, astalking case is reported every 55 minutes, yet digital stalking remains deeply underreported gov.in+8en.wikipedia.org+8safehome.org+8.
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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)
- Dr. Poonam Verma (Principal, SSCBS, Delhi University)
Our Mission
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.