Kaspersky Report Reveals 33 New Stalkerware Families Fueling Global Digital Stalking Epidemic

A recent global investigation into digital surveillance has unveiled a rapidly expanding dark web economy centered around stalkerware. This alarming trend highlights how perpetrators are increasingly leveraging everyday smart devices to monitor and control their victims, marking a significant escalation in tech-enabled abuse.

Kaspersky, a leading cybersecurity firm, has published a detailed report that outlines the disturbing scope of modern digital harassment. The findings illustrate a troubling shift in abuse dynamics, where traditional physical violence is now being supplemented by invisible forms of harassment, including unauthorized geolocation tracking, message interception, and digital impersonation.

The Invisible Epidemic of Digital Stalking

The Kaspersky report presents concerning statistics that shed light on the prevalence of technological abuse. The data indicates that 8.5 percent of respondents have experienced targeted digital stalking, while 5.4 percent reported being victims of doxing—the malicious and unauthorized dissemination of private information online.

Experts in the field note that tech-enabled abuse encompasses a wide range of harmful behaviors, from coordinated online exclusion and social media harassment to covert cyberstalking facilitated by sophisticated software. One of the significant challenges in addressing this epidemic is the normalization of such behaviors. The lack of immediate physical evidence associated with digital stalking often leads victims to struggle in recognizing their experiences as harmful, resulting in substantial underreporting.

Dr. Leonie Maria Tanczer, an Associate Professor at UCL Computer Science and Head of the Gender and Tech Research Lab, emphasizes the detrimental impact of a shared vocabulary deficiency. She argues that without a recognized framework to define technology-enabled abuse, it remains largely unnamed and unsupported, complicating law enforcement’s ability to assess the true scale of the crisis and intervene effectively.

The Dark Web Surveillance Economy

Among the most alarming revelations in the Kaspersky report is the commercialization of surveillance. Experts from Kaspersky Digital Footprint Intelligence have identified a thriving ecosystem of doxing and stalking services actively traded on dark web forums. The cost of hiring a digital stalker or acquiring advanced surveillance tools can range from as low as $50 to over $4,000 (approximately KES 6,500 to KES 520,000).

At the heart of this illicit economy is “stalkerware,” commercial software explicitly designed to spy on individuals. Unlike traditional malware, which typically targets financial theft, stalkerware is installed directly onto a victim’s mobile device, often by an abusive partner or acquaintance who has physical access to the phone.

The capabilities of modern stalkerware are alarmingly comprehensive. This software allows abusers to:

• Track Geolocation: Pinpoint the victim’s exact physical location in real-time, effectively trapping them in a constant state of surveillance.
• Intercept Communications: Access text messages, emails, and direct messages across encrypted social media platforms.
• Access Media: View private photographs, videos, and internet search histories without the victim’s knowledge.
• Monitor Calls: Eavesdrop on live voice calls or remotely activate the device’s microphone to listen to ambient conversations.

Between 2024 and 2025, Kaspersky identified 33 previously unseen stalkerware families, highlighting a rapidly evolving development landscape. These invasive tools have been detected on devices across more than 160 countries, underscoring that the threat transcends geographic boundaries.

Building a Coordinated Legal Response

Tatyana Shishkova, Lead Security Researcher at Kaspersky’s Global Research and Analysis Team, underscores the insidious nature of these programs. Stalkerware operates entirely in the background, without generating visible icons or notifications, leaving many victims unaware that their digital activities are being monitored by a hostile entity.

Recognizing that software patches alone cannot address this deeply rooted societal issue, Kaspersky has co-founded the Coalition Against Stalkerware. This international working group brings together private technology companies, non-governmental organizations, academic research institutions, and law enforcement agencies. Their collective mission is to combat cyberstalking through public education, technological countermeasures, and direct assistance for victims of online abuse.

As the digital and physical realms continue to converge, the battle against tech-enabled abuse is emerging as a critical human rights issue of the decade. The tools originally designed for connection have been repurposed into instruments of control, necessitating unprecedented global cooperation to dismantle this hidden economy.

For further details, refer to the original reporting source: streamlinefeed.co.ke.

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