According to a recent article in the MailOnline it appears that divorce/infidelity is on the rise — and so is the use of ‘spouseware’. The article states that the global commercial spyware industry is now worth an estimated £9.6billion, and the market is booming, a boom that includes suspicious partners spying on partners.
Gurpreet Thathy told us that ‘back in the day,’ to purchase these type of gadgets (for whatever intended use), you had to know somebody who built them, or you had to go to the spy shop near Green Park station. However, with components getting a lot cheaper/accessible and with the boom in online purchasing, you can get apps that hack phones, cameras hidden in smoke detectors and GSM devices fitted within an extension socket with an active microphone all online and for a low cost.
At VALKYRIE (GB) LIMITED, we try and assist clients who may not have the means to pay for professional services due to their circumstances, one of our charity clients who help victims involved in domestic violence has also told us that victims have been subject to being spied on by so-called spouseware. The article states the following popular choices for spying on spouses include:
- Spouseware: these apps are secretly installed on a mobile device so they can access info
- Trackers: these are more common than ever – miniature tracking devices are now readily available with real-time tracking
- Matching-Phone-Numbers/Users: CellTrack is a website based in the Netherlands, and it advertises worldwide telecom-trace packages to locate the device
- Covert Cameras: concealed in items such as flowerpots, fire alarms, & motion sensors, can be placed anywhere around the home
We regularly post on issues associated to privacy and its fair to say the threats have multiplied in the past 2 decades with the technology boom. While it’s not illegal to sell these type of devices, their use usually is illegal when it breaches privacy rights and legislation.
Cheap spy cameras can cause concern because they compromise people’s privacy/security. These cameras are often small, easily concealable, and may not have any indicators to show when they are recording. As a result, they can be used for surreptitious monitoring, such as in private spaces like offices, bedrooms, bathrooms and changing rooms.
Furthermore, some cheap spy cameras may be connected to the internet, allowing the footage to be remotely viewed or shared with others. This raises concerns about unauthorised surveillance and the potential misuse of personal info.
Therefore, it is essential to be aware of the potential risks associated with cheap spy gadgets and to protect your privacy/security, such as regularly inspecting your surroundings for suspicious devices and always maintaining a high degree of mobile phone security.
