What is stalkerware and how do I find it on my device?
Stalkerware is software installed on a device without consent to secretly monitor calls, messages, location, and activity; it is often used in domestic abuse contexts and usually requires brief physical access to install.
Last reviewed: 10 June 2026
Explanation
Stalkerware (also called spouseware or monitoring software) is different from typical malware in that it is usually installed deliberately by someone who had brief physical access to your unlocked device — a partner, family member, or controlling acquaintance. It hides from the home screen and app drawer while transmitting your location, messages, call logs, browsing history, and sometimes live audio or camera feeds to a remote portal the installer controls.
On Android, stalkerware often arrives through sideloaded APKs (apps installed outside the Play Store) and may require you to grant accessibility permissions, which allow broad device control. On iPhone, it is harder to install without a jailbreak, but iCloud account access can achieve similar surveillance through synced data. If someone knows your Apple ID and password, they may be monitoring your messages, location, and photos through iCloud web access without any app on your phone at all.
Signs to look for: faster than normal battery drain, unexplained data usage, phone warming when idle, apps with broad permissions you don't remember granting, unfamiliar entries in your accessibility services list (Android), and any behaviour suggesting the person tracking you knows things they shouldn't.
The Coalition Against Stalkerware (stopstalkerware.org) provides guidance and resources. If you are in a potentially dangerous situation, consult a domestic abuse organisation before removing stalkerware — unexpected disappearance of the monitoring capability can sometimes escalate risk. A safety plan developed with an advocate is the right starting point.
Common red flags
- Your partner or someone else knows details about your day that you didn't share with them
- Your phone battery drains unusually fast with no new apps installed
- Unfamiliar apps appear in Settings > Accessibility or Notification Access on Android
- Data usage is higher than expected
- Your phone was left unattended with someone who had opportunity and motive to install software
- Your iCloud account was or is shared with someone you no longer trust
What to do now
- If in a domestic abuse situation, contact a support hotline before taking any action on the device
- Check Settings > Apps (Android) for apps you don't recognise, especially those with no icon
- Check Settings > Accessibility > Installed Apps on Android for apps with broad control
- On iPhone, review whether your Apple ID is used on other trusted devices — remove any you don't authorise
- Change your Apple ID or Google account password from a completely separate device
- Run a reputable mobile security scan — Malwarebytes and Certo are options for stalkerware detection
- Consider using a new device if you cannot safely resolve the situation on the current one
Frequently asked questions
Is stalkerware legal?
Installing monitoring software on an adult's device without their knowledge or consent is illegal in most jurisdictions, even between partners. It is a form of coercive control.
Can parental monitoring apps be considered stalkerware?
Parental monitoring apps used transparently on a child's device with the child's knowledge are generally legal. The same apps used covertly on an adult's device without consent cross into stalkerware territory.