How control and harassment became weapons of the 21st century.
Kaspersky Lab conducted a survey of more than 20,000 people around the world and found that cybercrime has reached the scale of a pandemic and is now a widespread threat in almost every country.
The report focuses on stalking software as the most common form of digital violence. Stalker software is software that can be surreptitiously installed on a person's device without their consent and is designed to monitor real-time activities, including location tracking, accessing text messages, browser history, and recording audio or video.
Such programs allow the intruder to control the victim, even to the point of trying to find help or escape. Removing them can be even more dangerous, especially in abusive relationships.
The study found that 23% of respondents had experienced online harassment from acquaintances, and 39% reported violence or abuse from current or former partners. More women (42%) than men (36%) report being tracked or mistreated.
In 2023, 31,031 cases of infection with such software were registered, which is 6% more than in 2022. In Europe, 2,645 unique cases of stalker software use were recorded, with the largest number of victims occurring in Germany (577), France (332) and the United Kingdom (271). In North America, 77% of all cases occur in the United States. Among the most frequently used programs are TrackView, Reptilic, SpyPhone, Mobile Tracker, and Cerberus.
Despite growing concerns about the safety of victims, knowledge of stalker software is low. 67% do not know what it is, and another 12% are not sure about the possibilities of such monitoring. Women are even more ignorant – 70% do not know about stalker software, 42% understand that such software can record location, and 35% are aware of the possibility of recording video or audio.
In the UK, 42% of respondents believe that cyber-stalking partners without their consent is "acceptable". The study also reveals a worrying trend in digital trust and the level of access that people freely provide. More than half (52%) of UK adults admit that they give their partners full access to their phones, and women do this more often.
The survey also found that young people who grew up surrounded by technology may be less aware of malicious content on the Internet and the privacy trade-offs associated with digital behavior. This trend leads to the normalization of monitoring and use of stalker programs, which threatens the privacy and security of individuals in the digital era.
Kaspersky Lab conducted a survey of more than 20,000 people around the world and found that cybercrime has reached the scale of a pandemic and is now a widespread threat in almost every country.
The report focuses on stalking software as the most common form of digital violence. Stalker software is software that can be surreptitiously installed on a person's device without their consent and is designed to monitor real-time activities, including location tracking, accessing text messages, browser history, and recording audio or video.
Such programs allow the intruder to control the victim, even to the point of trying to find help or escape. Removing them can be even more dangerous, especially in abusive relationships.
The study found that 23% of respondents had experienced online harassment from acquaintances, and 39% reported violence or abuse from current or former partners. More women (42%) than men (36%) report being tracked or mistreated.
In 2023, 31,031 cases of infection with such software were registered, which is 6% more than in 2022. In Europe, 2,645 unique cases of stalker software use were recorded, with the largest number of victims occurring in Germany (577), France (332) and the United Kingdom (271). In North America, 77% of all cases occur in the United States. Among the most frequently used programs are TrackView, Reptilic, SpyPhone, Mobile Tracker, and Cerberus.
Despite growing concerns about the safety of victims, knowledge of stalker software is low. 67% do not know what it is, and another 12% are not sure about the possibilities of such monitoring. Women are even more ignorant – 70% do not know about stalker software, 42% understand that such software can record location, and 35% are aware of the possibility of recording video or audio.
In the UK, 42% of respondents believe that cyber-stalking partners without their consent is "acceptable". The study also reveals a worrying trend in digital trust and the level of access that people freely provide. More than half (52%) of UK adults admit that they give their partners full access to their phones, and women do this more often.
The survey also found that young people who grew up surrounded by technology may be less aware of malicious content on the Internet and the privacy trade-offs associated with digital behavior. This trend leads to the normalization of monitoring and use of stalker programs, which threatens the privacy and security of individuals in the digital era.
