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Spyware is designed for covert information gathering and is often used by jealous partners or malicious actors. Such apps can track location, browse history, or read messages.
However, despite their supposed stealth, the developers of these programs are themselves vulnerable to hacker attacks, leading to massive data leaks.
According to TechCrunch, at least 25 cases of breaches or data leaks involving spyware developers have been recorded since 2017. Four companies have been targeted multiple times.
The most recent incident involved the hacking of SpyX in mid-2024, affecting nearly 2 million victims.
Before this, similar data breaches occurred with Spyzie, Cocospy, Spyic, and other surveillance services.
Importantly, when breached, attackers gained access to millions of people’s personal data—including photos, messages, call logs, and location history.
Other affected companies include Spytech, mSpy, pcTattletale, and FlexiSpy.
For example, an unknown hacker breached pcTattletale’s servers, stole company data, and even left a message mocking the spyware on its website. As a result, the company’s founder announced its closure.
Experts note that the stalkerware industry remains a "juicy target" for hackers. According to Eva Galperin, Director of Cybersecurity at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, developers of these apps often neglect data protection.
Some companies shut down after attacks, but their owners may launch new projects under different names.
All of this demonstrates that the risks of using such unethical software are too high and should never be used under any circumstances.
(This translation was generated automatically.)
