42% of Brits believe ‘cyberstalking’ partners is acceptable, paving the way for domestic abuse

With a recent Kaspersky survey of over 20,000 people worldwide finding that cyberstalking has now reached pandemic proportions and silently infiltrated almost every country, the new State of Stalkerware report shines a light on stalkerware as the most common form of digital abuse. Stalkerware is freely available software that can be covertly installed on a person’s device without consent and is designed to monitor activities in real-time, including tracking locations, accessing text messages, browser history and recording audio or video.

The report finds that almost 31,000 mobile users were subjected to stalkerware in 2023, with the UK now ranking as the third most affected country in Europe. Despite growing concerns for the safety of victims, knowledge of stalkerware is low with 67% of respondents admitting they do not know what it is, and an additional 12% stating they were unsure of the extent of its surveillance capabilities. Women showed a greater lack of awareness, with 70% stating they are unaware of what stalkerware entails, only 42% aware it can record locations, and 35% aware that it can record video or audio.

Erica Olsen, Senior Director, Safety Net Project, National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV) commented on the report: “This report highlights both the prevalence of stalking behavior perpetrated with technology and the related perceptions on privacy within intimate partner relationships. The use of stalkerware or any tool to monitor someone else without their consent is a violation of privacy and a common tactic of abuse. This report demonstrates how abusive individuals use a wide range of monitoring tactics; including both stalkerware and other applications that facilitate the sharing of personal information.”

In an apparent normalisation of the problem, 42% of Britons stated that they believe cyberstalking of partners without consent is ‘acceptable’. Going further, the research highlights a concerning trend around digital trust and the level of access that people are freely giving away. Over half (52%) of UK adults polled admitted to giving their partners full access to phones, with women more likely to do so.  This trust extends to sharing passwords to streaming services (76%), which can reveal geolocation, provide access to photos (75%), contact lists (70%), and even security devices (67%). Most female respondents said they would allow full access to their phone to their spouse.

Emma Pickering, Head of Technology-Facilitated Abuse and Economic Empowerment at Refuge, stated: “The statistics highlighted in this report are really concerning, but we are sadly not surprised. Here at Refuge, we are seeing an alarming increase in survivors reporting concerns relating to stalkerware. As these statistics reveal, the issue of stalkerware is a widespread concern. It is likely that we are seeing this due to an increase in stalkerware features within parental monitoring Apps making the ability to stalk ever more accessible. 

It is also very important to note that we rarely see any form of tech abuse used in isolation. Alongside stalkerware, abusers are often misusing other forms of technology to cause harm and distress. This is why we should always ensure, as agencies, we are completing a detailed tech assessment and supporting survivors to regain access to all accounts and devices. For this reason, it is imperative that we continue to work together with the wider tech community to understand the technology being used, and to try to prevent it being used for harm by building in safety by design collaboratively.”

The misuse of digital access and the lack of awareness about stalkerware have real-world implications. In 2023, the report found that 27% of UK adults reported being stalked through technology, and 37% have suffered some form of abuse from a current or previous partner. Moreover, confusion about the appropriate response to stalkerware is prevalent; 34% of those aware of stalkerware on their devices would choose to delete it, a method not recommended due to potential risks to physical safety.

David Emm, Principal Researcher, Global Research and Analysis Team, Kaspersky, added: “These findings underline the urgent need for increased public awareness and education on the dangers of stalkerware and the importance of digital privacy. It is crucial for individuals to understand not only the risks associated with giving unrestricted access to personal devices, but also the potential consequences of using or being targeted by stalkerware. The data calls for a collective effort from technology companies, law enforcement, and public awareness campaigns to educate the public on safe digital practices and the resources available for those affected by stalkerware”.

Additional resources

• The State of Stalkerware 2023 report is available to download here
• For more information on stalkerware and digital privacy, please visit www.stopstalkerware.org