Spyware on Devices

What spyware on devices is, who it affects, and what a child should learn — a free entry from the Digital Guardians Threat Dictionary.

Target age range: Children and teens who use personal devices (smartphones, tablets, or computers) – especially ages 11–18, as they begin downloading apps and browsing more independently. (Younger kids can also be affected if they use devices unsupervised or if someone installs spyware on a family device.)

Learning objective: Understand what spyware and stalkerware are, how they end up on devices, and how to detect and remove them. Families will learn to identify warning signs of a spyware infection, practice safe device habits to prevent unauthorized monitoring, and know step-by-step actions to take if a device is compromised. The goal is to protect children’s privacy and personal data from digital eavesdropping and to empower both parents and children to secure their devices.

Threat definition

Spyware is malicious software designed to secretly invade a device and steal information or monitor activity. It can log keystrokes, capture screenshots, record web browsing, and even activate cameras or microphones without the user’s knowledge. For example, spyware might collect login credentials, read texts, or eavesdrop on private conversations. Stalkerware is a related threat – essentially spyware that is often installed by someone known to the victim (such as an abusive partner, a bully, or a overly intrusive person) to track a specific target’s phone calls, messages, GPS location, and more. Stalkerware often disguises itself as a harmless or hidden app running in the background. In the context of children’s safety, a predator or ill-intentioned individual could trick a child into installing spyware (e.g., by hiding it in a “game” app or sending a phishing link), enabling them to spy on the child’s device usage, steal personal data, or watch/listen through the device’s camera and mic. This can lead to serious harms like identity theft, grooming (the spy can gather intel to manipulate the child), or violation of privacy. Unlike overt hacking, spyware works silently – the child might not realize their device is compromised.

The full chapter is in Pillar 3: Device, App & Network Protection and the Complete Edition.