Global research by Kaspersky reveals that digital violence is on the rise

Kaspersky's latest "State of Stalkerware 2023" research reveals that nearly 31,000 mobile users worldwide have been exposed to stalkerware, an illegal surveillance software used by abusers to track their victims. But it's not just stalkerware that's a problem, as 40% of people surveyed worldwide said they have experienced stalking or suspect they are being stalked.

Stalkerware is usually presented in the form of legitimate anti-theft or parental control apps on smartphones, tablets and computers, but in reality it is very different. Already installed - usually without the consent and notice of the person being stalked - they provide the perpetrator with the means to gain control of the victim's life. The capabilities of stalkerware vary depending on the application.

The State of Stalkerware is an annual Kaspersky survey, which aims to better understand the global number of people affected by digital surveillance. In 2023, Kaspersky's statistics reveal that 31,031 unique individuals worldwide were exposed to stalkerware, an increase of almost 6% year-on-year (5.8%) from the 29,312 users affected in 2022. The data reverses the downward trend in 2021, confirming that digital stalking is still a global problem.

According to Kaspersky Security Network, in 2023, Russia (9,890), Brazil (4,186) and India (2,492) were the three countries whose users were most affected. Iran was in the top five last year and remains in the top five. Compared to 2021, the top 10 affected countries have changed very little. While Germany dropped from seventh to 10th place, Saudi Arabia (which ranked eighth in 2022) is no more affected this year.

Stalking and violence - offline and online

The spectrum of abuse varies, with over a third (39%) of respondents worldwide reporting experiences of violence or abuse from their partner or a former relationship. Of those surveyed for the report, 23% globally revealed that they have experienced some form of online stalking from a person they were recently in a relationship with. In addition, a total of 40% reported that they have experienced stalking or suspect that they are likely to have experienced stalking.

On the other hand, 12% admitted to installing or setting certain settings on their partner's phone, while 9% admitted to pressuring their partner to install monitoring apps. However, the idea of monitoring a partner without their knowledge was disapproved of by the majority of people (54%), highlighting the strong negative feeling about this behaviour. Regarding attitudes towards consensual monitoring of online activities in a relationship, 45% of respondents express disapproval, highlighting the importance of privacy rights. In contrast, 27% support full transparency in relationships, considering consensual monitoring permissible, while 12% consider it acceptable only when there is mutual agreement.

The fight against stalkerware needs allies

In most countries around the world, the use of stalkerware is not prohibited to date, but installing such an application on another person's smartphone without their consent is illegal and punishable. However, it is the perpetrator who is responsible, not the developer of the application. Along with other similar technologies, stalkerware is a piece of technological abuse and is often used in abusive relationships.

Stalkerware is not primarily a technical problem, but a manifestation of a problem that requires action by all members of society. Kaspersky is not only actively committed to protecting users from this threat, but also to maintaining a multi-level dialogue with non-profit organizations, as well as industrial, research and public bodies around the world, in order to work together to find solutions to combat the problem.

In 2019, Kaspersky was the first cybersecurity company in the industry to develop a new alert that draws attention and clearly informs users if stalkerware is detected on their device. While Kaspersky's features have been highlighting potentially dangerous apps that do not contain malware - including stalkerware - for many years, the new alert feature warns the user if an app has been found on their device that may be stalking them.

As this is part of a larger problem, Kaspersky is working with relevant experts and organisations in the field of domestic violence, from victim support services and perpetrator programmes to research and government agencies, to share knowledge and support both professionals and victims.

In 2019, Kaspersky also co-founded the Coalition Against Stalkerware, an international anti-stalkerware working group.