Your Mobile Phone May Be Bugged if...

The following clues may indicate your cell phone is bugged...

• Software displays "App Closed: Main" error message frequently.
• Unusual additions in your phone's "Application Manager" menu.
• You see unusual entries in you phone's "Call Duration Log."
• Error messages - "message stuck in outbox" / "no sms credit".
• You hear unexpected 'beeps'.
• The phone's screen backlight switches on for no apparent reason.
• Your phone starts acting sluggish; keypad buttons jam.
• You see error messages more frequently than normal.
• Battery life suddenly drops.

Be aware that some cell phone spyware runs cleaner than others; thus, not having these problems does not mean you are free of spyware. Keep alert.

Things you can do to reduce your vulnerability to spyware...
• Use an inexpensive phone. "Smart" phones get bugged.
• Use a cell service which is not GSM. Most spyware is GSM based.
• Keep your phone turned off when not needed.
• Force spies out. Make fake calls and SMS's as a test.
• Switch phones, carriers and numbers occasionally.
• Consider using pre-paid phones.
• NEVER accept a phone as a gift.
• NEVER loan your phone; not even for a few minutes.
• ALWAYS keep your phone in your complete control.

See how easy it is for the general public to obtain spyware. Click here.

Protecting your business against eavesdropping is also easy. Click here.

~Kevin

3 out of 10 Android Cell Phone Users Hit By Malware this Year

If... you thought your phone was safe, you, sir, were sorely mistaken. As we speak, your phone could be spying on you, getting access to all your secret passcodes, bank account information, and credit card numbers. The little bastard could even be pilfering money from you behind your back.

Now before you go thinking your phone has turned into Hal from “2001: A Space Odyssey,” it hasn’t. These attacks are the result of malware and spyware that you may have unintentionally invited into your phone when you downloaded an infected app. And a new report released Wednesday by Lookout Mobile Security finds that such malware and spyware is on the rise. One particularly troubling finding: Android users are now twice as likely to encounter malware today than they were six months ago, and three out of ten Android users are likely to encounter a Web-based threat on their device each year.

Interestingly, the report notes that while application-based threats affect both Android and iOS devices, malware and spyware have primarily targeted Android devices. iOS devices are more likely to be hit with commercial spyware apps developed specifically for jailbroken devices.

For Android phones, malware has been increasing at a faster rate than spyware, but spyware still remains the larger threat. In January 2011, 34% of all threats were malware and 66% were spyware. But as of June 2011, malware made up 48% of all threats, compared to spyware’s 52%. (more)

Spybuster Tip: Go iOS. Don't jailbreak.

Spybusters Tip # 723 - Be Smart - Use a Dumb Phone to Thwart Spyware

Sometimes you just need a dumb phone that can't spy on you. 

inKlien Global's tiny phone

6.5mm Ultra Thin AIEK M3 Cool Card Cell Phone

One that can't hold spyware. 
One that can't GPS track you. 
One that can't bite you with Bluetooth. 

Dumb phones are not always easy to find.  

Your local cell phone store wants you to buy smartphones with data plans. Your significant other isn't going to gift you a dumb phone. (A smartphone, maybe, but don't trust it.)

If you are in the market for a spybusting phone, or just a secret second phone, try looking at these...

inKlien Global "The world slimmest card size phone." (turn off Bluetooth)
johnsphones.com "The world's most basic cell phone."
Kyocera Marbl K127  (Virgin Mobile) Cellular Phone
Motorola W260g  Prepaid Phone (Tracfone)
Motorola C139  Prepaid Phone (Tracfone)


More Spybusters Tips:
• If you suspect your phone is spying on you, don't completely stop using it until you can collect evidence to prove your case. 
• Pick up a cheap, dumb, unblocked secret phone.
-- Don't give out the number.
-- Don't tell anyone you have it.
-- Use a pre-paid SIM card.
-- Use it for very confidential calls only, Let a little information leak via your smartphone. You don't want to tip off your spy that you have gone dark.
-- Completely turn off your smartphone when using your secret phone.
• Block your phone number from being sent. Press *67 before entering the number you want to call. Remember, calls to toll-free numbers like 700, 800, and 900 numbers (and their variants) can not be blocked.
• Rather text than phone? Return to those thrilling days of yesteryear... rent a pager. 

SpyWarn™ 2.0 Anti-spyware App for Smartphones

According to The New York Times, anti-spyware apps don't work very well.

The reason...
Most "spyware detection" apps only scan for known spyware. New and well hidden spyware goes unnoticed, and detecting baseband eavesdropping (very serious) isn't even considered. 

SPYWARN™ IS DIFFERENT
(patent pending)
SpyWarn™ 2.0 is a new and unique forensic methodology. It provides the functionality to detect all active spyware by monitoring what the infection is doing, and... ALL spyware is doing something.  

Plus, SpyWarn™ 2.0 detects both spyware and baseband eavesdropping in real-time.

Not just spyware detection... 
This forensic app also contains an eBook version of, "Is My Cell Phone Bugged?" at no extra charge. This informative eBook is about regaining your overall communications privacy, and keeping snoops out of your life.

A forensic examination by a specialist generally costs between $200.00 - $300.00 per inspection, and the end result is not as informative as SpyWarn™.

SpyWarn™ 2.0 is priced to help everyone, only $2.99. 

Don't wait until you have a spyware problem. Get SpyWarn™ on your phone now. Start conducting benchmark tests and saving them to SpyWarn's History file. When you do get a spyware infection it will be very apparent.

Privacy Policy - We are serious about privacy. Only you get to see the data SpyWarn™ collects; it never leaves your phone.

100% Satisfaction Guarantee
Try SpyWarn™ for 7 days. If you are not satisfied with its performance, tell me why so I can improve it, and I will refund the full purchase price to you. You keep the app and eBook.

If SpyWarn™ helps you, help others regain their privacy by writing a positive review on Google Play.

Thank you,
Kevin D. Murray CPP, CISM, CFE, MPSC
and The SpyWarn™ Team

Mobile Security Apps Perform Dismally Against Spyware

via Josh Kirschner at Techlicious...

Mobile spyware can have a devastating effect on your life; the constant fear that a spouse, significant other or even employer is following your every move, knows everything about your life and has completely removed any vestige of privacy...

And spyware is not as rare as you may think. According to mobile security company Lookout, .24% of Android phones they scanned in the U.S. had surveillance-ware installed intended to target a specific individual. Sophos reports a similar .2% infection rate from spyware. If those numbers hold true for Android users in general, that would mean tens of thousands could be infected.

I set out to test the leading Android anti-malware vendors to see how they fared at protecting us against the threat of spyware...

The results, generally speaking, were dismal. Of twelve products I tested, none was able to detect more than two-thirds of the samples. Many missed half or more of the spyware apps. And, surprisingly, the potential spyware apps least likely to be detected were those widely available in Google Play. (more)

Josh did an excellent job researching this topic and we thank him for publicly exposing the flaws. 

Now, what can be done about really detecting spyware?

Murray Associates was approached by two clients several years ago who had come to the same conclusion as Josh via their own research. They asked us to develop a solution – based on the following conditions:
  1. The solution must make quick and reasonable spyware evaluations. 
  2. No special forensic tools should be required. 
  3. No special skills should be necessary.
  4. No assistance should be necessary once the initial training is over. The phone owner must be able to conduct the test him- or herself—anytime, anyplace.
  5. Advancements in spyware software and cell phone hardware should not render the test ineffective.

The results of this project are published in the book, "Is My Cell Phone Bugged?", and are used in SpyWarn 2.0, a unique Android spyware detection app.

Pegasus Spyware Back in the News

Washington Post... NSO Group’s Pegasus spyware, licensed to governments around the globe, can infect phones without a click... Military-grade spyware licensed by an Israeli firm to governments for tracking terrorists and criminals was used in attempted and successful hacks of 37 smartphones belonging to journalists, human rights activists, business executives and two women close to murdered Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, according to an investigation by The Washington Post and 16 media partners. more

India Today... Pegasus spying: how Pegasus is installed on phone, what it does, and how to get rid of it...

• Pegasus can be installed on vulnerable phones through a web link or a missed call.
• The spyware can steal passwords, contacts, text messages, and photos.
• The only way to avoid Pegasus after it has infected a phone is by getting rid of the phone.

Pegasus, developed by Israeli cybersecurity firm NSO Group, is a highly sophisticated spyware that has been referred to as the "most sophisticated smartphone attack ever". It was first noticed in 2016 but created a lot of buzz in late 2019 when it was revealed that the spyware was used for snooping on journalists and human rights activists across the globe, including in India. more

Tech Xplore... Pegasus spyware: how does it work?

More recent versions of Pegasus, developed by the Israeli firm the NSO Group, have exploited weak spots in software commonly installed on mobiles.

In 2019 the messaging service WhatsApp sued NSO, saying it used one of these so-called "zero-day vulnerabilities" in its operating system to install the spyware on some 1,400 phones.

By simply calling the target through WhatsApp, Pegasus could secretly download itself onto their phone—even if they never answered the call.

More recently, Pegasus is reported to have exploited weaknesses in Apple's iMessage software.

That would potentially give it access to the one billion Apple iPhones currently in use—all without the owners needing to even click a button. more

Released: SpyWarn - Android Smartphone Anti-Spyware App

SpyWarn™ the simple-to-use forensic evaluation tool, used to check Android cell phones for spyware. Its unique forensic methodology makes it impossible to miss active spyware. 

SpyWarn™ begins with a FREE diagnostic survey – like a private consultation with a forensic expert. 

Based on your answers, a vulnerability Threat Level for your phone is computed.

If your Threat Level is low, there is little need to worry. Keep the app handy for future tests. If the Threat Level is medium to high, conduct further testing with SpyWarn PRO (an in-app upgrade). 

Additional features found in SpyWarn PRO:
• Automated analysis of key internal phone functions affected by spyware.
• An eBook version of, "Is My Cell Phone Bugged? Everything you need to know to keep your mobile communications private." (152 pages, $17.95 in hardcover.)
• An automatic Eavesdropping Alert function.
• Data and power statistics.
• A data & power graph.
• A history of every analysis you conduct.

Other "spyware detection" apps only scan for known spyware files. New or well hidden spyware is missed. SpyWarn's unique forensic methodology makes it impossible to miss active spyware. Available at Google Play. (more)

Tune into PI's Declassified! Thursday, 9 am Pacific, Noon Eastern

Is Your Cell Phone Bugging You?
Do you want to know how to protect your cell phone privacy or detect spyware on your smartphone? Are there warning signs that your phone is infected with spyware? Are there applications available to prevent your phone from being tapped or to catch the spy red-handed? Kevin D. Murray is an expert on mobile phone electronic surveillance and eavesdropping detection, known as technical surveillance countermeasures. He is also the author of Is My Cell Phone Bugged? Tune in to hear Kevin Murray discuss detecting mobile phone spyware, and tips to protect your most private conversations.
Link to show

Cell Phone Spying

Cell phone questions we receive...
"Can someone...
...listen in on my calls?
...listen to my voice mail messages?
...remotely steal my contacts list?
...send fake texts from my phone?
...activate my microphone 24/7?
...make my phone dial someone else?
...get a text stating the length of my call?
...get a text when I use my phone?
...send me texts using a fake number?
...get my new phone number when I switch SIM cards?
...get a text message with the numbers I call and receive?
...track where I am on a computer map using the phone's GPS?
...track where I am on a computer map even if my phone lacks GPS?
...can they do all this from anywhere in the world?
...record my calls using my phone's own internal memory?
...trick me into installing spyware by making it look like a game?
Isn't this illegal to do in the United States?"
Yes.
See...
(investigative video news report)
(more stories about cell phone spying)

If Tiger Woods' cell phone had this...

...he would be working on his putts today.

(from the manufacturer's press release...)

FlexiSHIELD is software for cell phones that effectively creates an 'invisibility' shield for your phone, protecting SMS, EMAIL, MMS, Phone Logs and actual Phone Calls from prying eyes.

For any phone number, or Contact that you specify, FlexiSHIELD will automatically hide any incoming or outgoing SMS, MMS, EMAIL, Phone Logs and actual Phone Calls in an invisible vault on the phone itself.

When installed and activated, there is no indication of the application, and all message and call notifications are suppressed, making FlexiSHIELD totally invisible in operation. (more)

No, it won't work on your iPhone or BlackBerry. Currently, it is only compatible with Windows Mobile / Nokia cell phones. Yes, these are the same people who make the cell phone spyware.

FutureWatch... It will be interesting to see how this development affects law enforcement, cell phone forensic investigations.

CBS 46 Investigates: Cell Phone Spying

New cell phone “spyware” has made it easy for just about anyone to bug your phone and uncover details of your private life, communications experts say.

The “spyware," marketed to suspicious spouses, parents and employers, can turn just about any cell phone into a high-tech spying device.

A quick search on the Internet reveals dozens of "spy phone" programs ranging from $4 to $400. Some “spyware” works on Bluetooth technology, while others require a download onto a "smart" phone, like a Blackberry or Web-based device. CBS 46 Investigative Reporter Wendy Saltzman tested Flexispy, high-end software that experts say allows people to eavesdrop on calls, download e-mails, and even track a person's GPS location at the touch of a button. (more) (video) (similar subject, different source)

Cell Phone Spyware - Beware

The Internet ad claims... for $99.95 and 5 minutes of your time, you too can spy on any cell phone in the world! 

Sound too good to be true? Read the hype. You decide.

• Unleash the very latest technology that allows you to spy on any Cell Phone, Laptop or Bluetooth enabled device...

• Not just one program but an entire suite of programs designed to work with old phones, new phones, smart phones, java phones -There is a solution for any phone out there...

• INSTANT DOWNLOAD - PURCHASE RIGHT NOW!

• That means that in as little as 5 minutes you can be checking any phone you want.  

• ...instantly you will be reading your wife's SMS/text messages, listening to your kid's phone conversation, even knowing what your boss or your neighbor is saying. All of this is done in stealth mode. This means they will never know that you are doing this. And this works on ALL phones. Samsung, Motorola, Nokia, Ericsson, Blackberry, absolutely all of them. This will work in all countries, on all networks.

• "Will I have to install any software on the phone(s) I wish to spy on?"
No. This product only needs to be installed on your phone. (more)

You may also want to read the fine print before pressing that "Download" button. 
Legal Info - Refund Policy

"There is no guarantee that this product will do what it claims to do;" 
"The product, service or membership referenced herein is sold with a no refund policy allowed. All sales are final!" (more)

You've been warned.
Learn more about Cell Phone Privacy here.  ~Kevin

GPS = Global Phone Snitch

via The Wall Street Journal...

Phone companies know where their customers' cellphones are, often within a radius of less than 100 feet. That tracking technology has rescued lost drivers, helped authorities find kidnap victims and let parents keep tabs on their kids.

But the technology isn't always used the way the phone company intends.

Technology is enhancing the reach of stalkers, allowing them to take advantage of location-based social networking applications. WSJ's Andy Jordan reports.

The allegations are a stark reminder of a largely hidden cost from the proliferation of sophisticated tracking technology in everyday life—a loss of privacy.

Global-positioning systems, called GPS, and other technologies used by phone companies have unexpectedly made it easier for abusers to track their victims. A U.S. Justice Department report last year estimated that more than 25,000 adults in the U.S. are victims of GPS stalking annually, including by cellphone.  

A spokesman for AT&T Inc. says it notifies all phone users when tracking functions are activated. (They send a text message upon initial activation. Useless if the stalker has the phone at that moment.) But users don't have the right to refuse to be tracked by the account holder. Turning off the phone stops the tracking. 

Courtesy Executrac Mobile GPS Tracker

Earlier this year, researchers with iSec Partners, a cyber-security firm, described in a report how anyone could track a phone within a tight radius. All that is required is the target person's cellphone number, a computer and some knowledge of how cellular networks work, said the report, which aimed to spotlight a security vulnerability.

...an unintended consequence of federal regulations that require cellphone makers to install GPS chips or other location technology in nearly all phones. The Federal Communications Commission required U.S. cellular providers to make at least 95% of the phones in their networks traceable by satellite or other technologies by the end of 2005. The agency's intention was to make it easier for people in emergencies to get help. GPS chips send signals to satellites that enable police and rescue workers to locate a person.

Craig Thompson, Retina-X's operations director, says the software (cell phone spyware) is meant to allow parents to track their kids and companies to keep tabs on phones their employees use. He says the company has sold 60,000 copies of MobileSpy. The company sometimes gets calls from people who complain they are being improperly tracked, he says, but it hasn't been able to verify any of the complaints. (Think they tried very hard?)

GPS-tracking systems provided by cellular carriers such as AT&T and Verizon Communications Inc. are activated remotely, by the carriers. (more)

From the What Goes Around Files: Phone Spy App Hacked

LetMeSpy, a phone tracking app spying on thousands, says it was hacked...

A data breach reveals the spyware is built by a Polish developer hacker has stolen the messages, call logs and locations intercepted by a widely used phone monitoring app called LetMeSpy, according to the company that makes the spyware.

The phone monitoring app, which is used to spy on thousands of people using Android phones around the world, said in a notice on its login page that on June 21, “a security incident occurred involving obtaining unauthorized access to the data of website users​​.”

“As a result of the attack, the criminals gained access to e-mail addresses, telephone numbers and the content of messages collected on accounts,” the notice read.

LetMeSpy is a type of phone monitoring app that is marketed for parental control or employee monitoring. The app is also specifically designed to stay hidden on a phone’s home screen, making it difficult to detect and remove. Also known as stalkerware or spouseware, these kinds of phone monitoring apps are often planted by someone — such as spouses or domestic partners — with physical access to a person’s phone, without their consent or knowledge. more

iPhones Can be Infected with SpyWare Without Jailbreaking... and what you can do about it.

via lookout.com
The security world exploded with the news that Hacking Team, a vendor of Italian spyware — software that captures Skype, message, location, social media, audio, visual, and more data, and is marketed as “stealth” and “untraceable” — was hacked…
 
When it comes to iOS, public reports to-date have claimed that the Hacking Team spyware can only infect jailbroken iOS devices… this is not the case.

While Apple does an admirable job protecting users from most malicious software, the fact is that non-jailbroken devices can be infected with Hacking Team’s spyware too…

For its part, Apple created security warnings to inform users before they install apps from outside the App Store. The challenge, however, is that recent research states that people are getting increasingly conditioned to ignore these security warnings.

Here’s what the warning looks like when Hacking Team’s fake Newsstand app is installed on a non-jailbroken iPhone:




Once a user clicks “trust,” the app is fully functional on the non-jailbroken iPhone…

So what can you do about it? 
First off, don’t freak out. Chances are, you do not have Hacking Team’s surveillanceware on your device. To check for this specific instance of Hacking Team’s surveillanceware you can:

Check iOS Settings for any apps with an empty name.

• Check iOS Settings -> General -> Keyboard -> Keyboards to make sure that only keyboards you have installed are set up on your device.

And, here are some general tips for staying safe:

• Keep a passcode on your phone. A lot of spyware sold on the market requires that the attacker have physical access to the target device to install the software. Putting a passcode on your phone makes it that much harder for them.
• Don’t download apps from third party marketplaces or links online. Spyware is also distributed through these means. Only download from official and vetted marketplaces such as the Apple App Store and Google Play.
• Don’t jailbreak your device unless you really know what you’re doing. Because jailbroken iOS devices are inherently less protected, they are more vulnerable to attack when security protection measures aren’t properly enabled.
• Download a security app that can stop attacks before they do harm. Lookout does this, but if you’re not a Lookout user, ask your security provider if they detect Hacking Team and other forms of spyware.
  Click here to cancel reply.

World's Smallest GSM Cell Phone Eavesdropping Bug

from, Is My Cell Phone Bugged?

A cousin to the ZombiePhone is the GSM micro-bug. These are miniaturized cell phones made specifically for covert eavesdropping! Like ZombiePhone bugs but without normal cell phone features, these are tiny, creepy, robotic, cell phone bugs often hidden in such everyday objects as power strips and lighting fixtures.
 

Their tiny size is possible because they do not have keypads, ringers, displays, or smart-phone features. When called from any other phone, they become eavesdropping bugs automatically.
 

Shown with wall charger and USB cable.

Groupe Spécial Mobile (GSM) is the name of the world’s most popular cellular telephone standard. GSM micro-bugs work on this standard, which means they can work in almost anywhere on Earth where there is cellular telephone service. Like normal cell phones whose features are set to Auto-Answer and No Ring, GSM bugs are equally hard to detect because they sleep most of the time. The thing that awakens them is the call from the eavesdropper. 

Some models also awaken when they hear sound being made near them. Some awaken when they sense vibration or light. Should you awaken one, it will silently call the eavesdropper.

If you feel you are being eavesdropped on and you are sure your cell phone is free of spyware, a GSM bug may be the culprit.
 

Bug microphones are much more sensitive than most people realize. The microphones in GSM micro-bugs are very sensitive and can capture sound from large areas like bedrooms, offices, and vehicles. Ideally, bugs are placed as close to the sound source as possible, but the rule of thumb when searching is: If your ear can hear it, so can the bug.

Ever wonder where all these bugs come from? This link is the first step to solving the mystery.

"Helloooo..." says Google++ Android Cell Phone Spyware App

A malicious Android app that disguises itself as Google's new social networking platform, Google+, is capable of stealing data, and answering and recording incoming phone calls, researchers said this week.

The spyware app disguises itself as Google+ by installing itself with the name “Google ++,” Jamz Yaneza, threat research manager at Trend Micro, told SCMagazineUS.com on Monday.

The malware contained in the app shares the same code structure as previously discovered Android spyware that also can steal information and record phone calls made from infected devices. Unlike the older variants, however, the new variant can automatically answer incoming phone calls on versions 2.2 and earlier.

“Once it is installed you won't know it is doing anything malicious,” Yaneza said. (more)

Android Phones - The New Corporate Espionage Tool

Alcatel-Lucent’s Kindsight subsidiary has released figures that show an increase in malicious software (malware) used by hackers to gain access to devices for corporate espionage, spying on individuals, theft of personal information, generating spam, denial of service attacks on business and governments and millions of dollars in fraudulent banking and advertising scams.

“Malware and cybersecurity threats continue to be a growing problem for home networks and mobile devices, particularly for Android smartphones and tablets which are increasingly targeted,” said Kevin McNamee, security architect and director of Alcatel-Lucent’s Kindsight Security Labs.

“A third of the top 15 security threats are now spyware related, up from only two spyware instances the last quarter,” said McNamee. “MobileSpy and FlexiSpy were already in the top 15 list, but SpyBubble moved up to take the 4th spot, while SpyMob and PhoneRecon appeared for the first time, ranking 5th and 7th respectively.

“Mobile spyware in the BYOD context poses a threat to enterprises because it can be installed surreptitiously on an employee’s phone and used for industrial or corporate espionage.”

McNamee said it is “surprisingly easy” to add a command and control interface to allow the attacker to control the device remotely, activating the phone’s camera and microphone without the user’s knowledge.

“This enables the attacker to monitor and record business meetings from a remote location. The attacker can even send text messages, make calls or retrieve and modify information stored on the device – all without the user’s knowledge.

“The mobile phone is a fully functional network device. When connected to the company’s Wi-Fi, the infected phone provides backdoor access to the network and the ability to probe for vulnerabilities and assets. (more)

Security Directors: FREE Security White Paper - "Surreptitious Workplace Recording ...and what you can do about it."  

Flexi Morality - Expanded Cell Phone Spyware Laws Introduced

On three occasions this week, I asked a FlexiSpy salesperson a simple question: If I wanted to, could I use their spyware to snoop on my wife's cellphone without her knowing? The answer each time was yes. 

When asked if it was legal, they responded with a canned disclaimer explaining it was necessary to get the permission of the target. But what if I didn't want my wife to know? They could help me anyway...

Detect phone warming caused by spyware. (for clients only)

Even though I started each conversation telling the FlexiSpy salesperson I was a FORBES reporter, they were happy to offer suggestions about how one could install the app without permission of the target. One said I could "sneak to get her phone" and then install, a process that FlexiSpy would guide me through. He sought to allay any fears about getting caught, noting there was no icon and it would operate silently...

Meanwhile, lawmakers are seeking to expand laws that punish unwarranted, secret surveillance. Last week, Senators Ron Wyden, Jason Chaffetz and John Conyers introduced The Geolocation Privacy and Surveillance (GPS) Act. Specifically, it creates criminal penalties for "surreptitiously using an electronic device to track a person's movements that parallel the penalties that exist for illegal wiretapping." more  other cell phone spy gadgets

How the Hell Are These Popular Spying Apps Not Illegal?

(a long and excellent article)
Here are some sordid scenarios. Your ex-girlfriend can see every time you swipe right while using Tinder. Your former husband is secretly listening to and recording your late-night Skype sessions with your new boyfriend. Some random slippery-dick is jacking off to the naked photos in your private photo library. For millions of people, it's not hypothetical. 

Someone could be spying on every call, Facebook message, snapchat, text, sext, each single keystroke you tap out on your phone, and you'd never know. I'm not talking about the NSA (though that too); I'm talking about software fine-tuned for comprehensive stalking—"spyware"—that is readily available to any insecure spouse, overzealous boss, overbearing parent, crazy stalker or garden-variety creep with a credit card. It's an unambiguously malevolent private eye panopticon cocktail of high-grade voyeurism, sold legally. And if it's already on your phone, there's no way you can tell.

Spyware companies like mSpy and flexiSPY are making money off the secret surveillance of millions of people's devices. Literally millions of people, according to the sales figures provided by these spyware companies, are going about their days not knowing that somewhere, some turdknockers are scouring their photo libraries and contacts and WhatsApp messages, looking for digital misdeeds.

Spyware has been around for decades, but the current crop is especially invasive. They make money by charging people—from $40 a month for a basic phone spying package on mSpy up to $200 a month on one of flexiSPY's bigger plan—for siphoning activity off their target's devices.
(more)