In a nutshell: Stalkerware is a category of software that allows a person to spy on another, oft past installing the software on the target's mobile device without their knowledge. Such apps, which often masquerade as parental control apps or anti-theft solutions, can monitor Internet activity, rails a user's whereabouts and record audio and video, amidst other functions.

Kaspersky recently commissioned a survey to gauge public perception equally it relates to privacy – specifically digital stalking – amongst those in a relationship. The results might surprise you.

Among the more than 21,000 people surveyed across 21 countries who are in a relationship or have been in the by, a staggering 30 percent believe it is alright to monitor their partner'due south digital activities. Inside this subset, more than half said that doing so was only appropriate in sure situations.

What constitutes an acceptable situation? Survey results evidence that 64 percent of those who believe it is alright to monitor their partner say they would practice and so if they believed they were being unfaithful while 63 percent said they would do then if information technology was related to rubber. Half in this group would also spy on their mate if they believed they were involved in criminal activity.

Virtually three in four (74 percentage) of those polled say they have never been stalked by ways of engineering science.

How would you lot react if you found stalkerware on your device? Most (83 percent) of those polled said they would confront their partner if they establish a monitoring app installed on their device without their consent, although the report notes that standing up to a partner in this situation might but escalate the run a risk that a stalkerware victim faces.