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An abusive partner or ex-partner could use apps and programs known as stalkerware to secretly track your device and your online activity. Find out how to tell if someone’s using stalkerware to track you and what to do about it.

What Is Stalkerware?

Stalkerware, also known as spyware, is a type of software program or app that someone installs on your phone or other device without your knowledge. These programs may allow the abuser to:

  • track your location
  • turn on the microphone to record your phone conversations
  • read your text messages and emails
  • see your photos and videos
  • watch what you’re doing online

Why Stalkerware Is Hard To Detect

Stalkerware and spyware apps are designed to avoid detection by the owner of the phone. Some stalkerware developers even provide instructions for how to disable notifications that could warn the owner that their phone is being monitored. Some spying apps may be hidden in the phone’s settings with fake names like “System Service,” to make them look innocuous or even legitimate and make them hard for the owner to discover.

How To Detect Stalkerware on Your Phone

Because stalkerware can be hard to discover on your phone, you’ll need to look for changes in how your phone is performing and things your abuser knows that they shouldn’t.

Questions to ask about your phone’s performance

  • Is my battery draining faster than usual?
  • Am I unexpectedly using more data?
  • Is my phone overheating?
  • Is my phone turning off and on unexpectedly?

Questions to ask about your abuser’s behavior

  • Does my abuser know my exact location when I haven’t told them where I am?
  • Do they know details from private conversations I’ve had with other people?
  • Do they always seem to know who I’m texting or talking to?
  • Does my abuser know what sites I’m visiting online?
  • Has my abuser had access to my phone without my supervision?

What To Do if You Think There’s Stalkerware on Your Phone

Taking any of these steps could tip off your abuser — especially if you make a call, use your phone to research your options, or have a conversation near your phone. If you’re concerned your phone might be monitored, consider leaving it behind when you’re seeking help. Trust your instincts and do what’s best in your situation.

Think about your safety first

An abuser who uses stalkerware to monitor you may escalate their abuse if they suspect you’re cutting off their access to your phone. So, before you remove stalkerware, reach out to a domestic violence advocate through the National Domestic Violence Hotline. You can reach a live advocate by phone, chat, or text:

If you can’t reach a live advocate, try the National Domestic Violence Hotline’s AI chatbot, Ruth, at ruth.thehotline.org.

Get help

A domestic violence advocate can:

  • help you create a personal safety plan
  • connect you to local support and aid groups
  • advise you on how to speak to law enforcement
  • help you develop a technology safety plan
  • help you identify tech misuse
  • discuss how to preserve evidence of abuse before you make changes to your phone

If you contact a domestic violence advocate or law enforcement official, don’t do so from the device that might have stalkerware on it. Instead, borrow a friend or family member’s device, or buy a pay-as-you-go phone.

Check if your phone’s been “rooted” or “jailbroken”

Some stalkerware apps can only be installed on a phone that’s been “rooted” or “jailbroken.” If your phone has been “rooted” or “jailbroken,” it means that someone removed or bypassed security protections on the phone to gain control over the operating system. That access could allow them to install a stalkerware app on your phone.

The Safety Net Project from the National Network to End Domestic Violence has a how-to guide to help you check if your Android device has been “rooted” or if your iOS device has been “jailbroken.” See Checking Devices for Rooting and Jailbreaking.

Document the abuse

Before replacing or resetting your phone, take steps to document evidence of abuse, or preserve valuable content you may want to keep, like photos.

Reset your phone or get a new one

The safest way to protect yourself might be to get a new phone with an account the abuser doesn’t have access to.

If you must keep your phone, consider doing a full factory reset of the device, which may remove the stalkerware. For Apple and Android devices, use the following links to find out how:

Don’t reinstall apps on your phone from a backup

Whether you reset your phone or get a new one, don’t reinstall apps from a backup of the old phone. This could reinstall the stalkerware.

Instead, download them again from the app store.

How To Protect Yourself From Stalkerware

Here are some ways to protect yourself from stalkerware.

Protect your phone

Protect your accounts

Make it harder for an abuser to log into your accounts.

  • Use strong passwords and don’t share them. Create a new, strong password for your social media, email, and other accounts your abuser may use to track you.
  • Turn on two-factor authentication, which makes it harder for an unauthorized user to log in to your accounts.

Finding Support and Resources

Get help by phone, online, or text

Contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline:

Get educational resources

The National Network to End Domestic Violence provides educational resources, apps, and toolkits for survivors through their Safety Net Project.

The National Domestic Violence Hotline offers tools and support to help survivors of domestic violence.

Did someone share an intimate photo or video of you without your permission?

The Take It Down Act requires online platforms to give you a way to submit a takedown request and they must act within 48 hours of your request.

Learn more

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