Stalkerware reportedly tracked thousands of Android and iPhones – but one thing you should however know is that stalkerware app is filled with various security problems of its own.
Stalkerware reportedly tracked thousands of Android and iPhones
One of the popularly used stalkerware apps is supposedly riddled with security issues and thus risks exposing the data of its victims to third parties, experts have reportedly warned.
Xnspy lets users monitor the activities of their partners, kids, and spouses even after they have covertly installed it on their victim’s device. After that, it runs secretly in the background while it sends data back to the installer.
An investigation carried out by TechCrunch found out that in addition to the already questionable legal and moral issues that a tool such as Xnspy presents, its underlying technology puts users in an extremely vulnerable position in regard to security issues such as identity theft.
What Was Uncovered By Researchers
Security researchers Felipe Solferini and Vangelis Stykas following up with months of research have claimed that the app had many flaws and vulnerabilities which were very easy to exploit and like have existed for many years.
The flaws uncovered include “credentials and private keys left behind in the code by the developers” as well as “broken or nonexistent encryption”.
The App According To the Research Primarily Targeted Android Users
The app according to the research carried out primarily targeted android users although it, however, reported tons of iPhones were compromised. Xnspy reportedly had 60,000 victims way back in 2022, TechCrunch claims, with examples being recorded as recently as 2022.
And despite Google instituting a ban on the sale of stalkerware from its app store back in august 2020, and also subsequently taking away any ads which popped up on its platform, it’s very much unlikely that we have seen the last of the controversial tech.
The Pandemic Resulted In a Surge in the Number of Use of Stalkerware Tools
The pandemic resulted in a surge in the number of people deciding to make use of stalkerware tools. There was reportedly a 93% increase in the use of spy and stalkerware apps in the United Kingdom after lockdown measures were first introduced if anything about the research from cybersecurity firm Avast is to be believed.
