Worried parents are the primary target for spyware companies like Family Orbit and mSpy. They sell software that can “spy” on children’s mobile phones, reporting location, messages, phone calls, and even notes. Security-minded parents want to monitor their children’s online activity, and with so much web traffic moving to mobile devices rather than computers, this is one way to accomplish that.
However, when you give a program permission to collect all that data, it gets collected and stored somewhere – and that somewhere can be breached. That is what happened recently with both Family Orbit and mSpy. Their databases were vulnerable and unsecured, allowing curious hackers to take a tour of personal photos of children, along with logs of data including location, notes, and passwords. For mSpy, this was the second such breach in three years.
The exposed data of both paying customers and those being ‘monitored’ should be worrying. If a parent is truly security and safety minded, this sort of data leak that can put their children at risk from online predators should give them pause. And, of course, there is the other function of these programs that are less advertised but more common – spying on romantic partners suspected of infidelity. These unsuspecting parties did not consent to have their data collected, but are at great risk of having it exposed.
The takeaway? Buyer beware. If you employ this sort of software to monitor your children or spy on your family and friends, you are putting them at risk of having their data stolen and used against them. Research and vet any program you might want to use for such a purpose to make sure you don’t accidentally endanger those you’re trying to protect. And, you know, talk to your spouse. Don’t spy on them. That’s just a bad idea.
Sources: MotherBoard article on Family Orbit
