Spyware and malware availability sparks surge in internet stalking
Source: The Guardian
Saturday 28 February 2015 22.35 GMT
Domestic violence experts have warned that the use of specialist technology that enables abusers to stalk victims online and via mobile phones is growing at an alarming rate.
A series of parliamentary answers has revealed that, in the 12 months up to April 2014, police received 10,731 reports of computers being compromised by spyware and malware (malicious software). Both can be used by abusers to gather information from someones computer or phone. They can allow abusers to view documents, photographs or passwords and even turn on a devices camera or microphone. Mobile spyware can also reveal a persons location.
The real number of victims is likely to be considerably higher. As most victims are unaware that they are being watched or are too scared to come forward, the real number of incidents could be up to 10 times that, said Harry Fletcher, criminal justice director of the Digital-Trust, a new charity set up to help victims of cyber abuse.
The trust says it sees new technology being used frequently in cases of domestic violence, divorce, custody battles and stalking and warns that the practice is becoming commonplace. Other experts agree. My research shows that over 50% of the time digital abuse is used within domestic violence, said Dr Emma Short of the Cyberstalking Research Centre.
Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/feb/28/spyware-malware-surge-internet-stalking-digital-trust-gps
Smarmie Doofus
(14,498 posts)billhicks76
(5,082 posts)Sherman A1
(38,958 posts)and not always for the good.
Technology has always been a two edged sword and while we are becoming increasingly connected, we are also becoming more vulnerable.
RKP5637
(67,112 posts)technology. Great good comes along with bad, that element of humanity will always, it seems, exploit the good to bring out the bad.
damyank913
(787 posts)My ex-wife was setting me up like a bowling pin. I was in a war and didn't know it. Long story short-the spyware gave me the info I needed to defend myself against her and her new boyfriend. It saved me tens of thousands of dollars.
RKP5637
(67,112 posts)escape/hide be incognito in today's society. Sometimes that is necessary, of course, to start a new life after a bad divorce, other events, whatever. ... but endless records are often easily available online about one, spewed out by government agencies and other sources, right down to just about every official document and more.
Why does the entire world need access to that detail of information about an individual. IMO our privacy laws are extremely lax, and the aforementioned information does not even require malware. Add malware, and one has a complete dossier on another individual. I often wish our congress paid more attention to items of this nature than the BS they often create and waddle through.