Draft:Hoverwatch

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Hoverwatch
DeveloperRefog Inc.
Initial release2011; 14 years ago (2011)
Operating systemAndroid, Windows, macOS
PlatformMobile, Desktop
Available in13 languages
TypeSurveillance software
LicenseProprietary
Websitewww.hoverwatch.com

Hoverwatch is a commercial surveillance software application developed by Refog Inc., marketed as a parental control and employee monitoring tool.[1] The software operates on Android, Windows, and macOS platforms, enabling monitoring of calls, messages, location, and online activities.[2] Security researchers and privacy advocates have classified Hoverwatch as stalkerware due to its covert operation capabilities and documented use in domestic abuse cases.[3]

Overview

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Hoverwatch was launched in 2011 by Refog Inc., a United States-based company.[4] The application installs in "stealth mode," running invisibly on target devices without the user's knowledge.[5] Data collected from monitored devices is transmitted to web-based dashboards accessible by the purchaser.[6]

The software is available in 13 languages including English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Hungarian, Romanian, Polish, Slovenian, Turkish, Czech, and Dutch.[7] By 2018, the company claimed to have over one million users globally.[8]

Features and capabilities

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Android features

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The Android version includes call recording, SMS and MMS tracking, GPS location monitoring, social media surveillance (WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Snapchat, Viber), front camera photo capture upon device unlock, and keystroke logging.[9]

Windows and macOS features

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Desktop versions offer keystroke logging, screenshot capture, browser history tracking, clipboard monitoring, and application usage tracking.[10]

Installation and operation

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Installation requires physical access to the target device for approximately 10-15 minutes.[11] On Android devices, users must enable installation from unknown sources and disable Google Play Protect.[12] The application is not available through official app stores due to policy violations.[13]

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Classification as stalkerware

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Multiple cybersecurity firms and advocacy organizations classify Hoverwatch as stalkerware.[14] The Coalition Against Stalkerware, which includes organizations like Malwarebytes, Electronic Frontier Foundation, and the National Network to End Domestic Violence, identifies such applications as tools primarily used for intimate partner surveillance without consent.[15]

Research by Citizen Lab at the University of Toronto specifically named Hoverwatch among eight stalkerware applications studied for their role in facilitating domestic abuse.[16] The study found that 71% of domestic abusers monitor survivors' computer activities, while 54% track survivors' cell phones with stalkerware.[17]

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In the United States, installing monitoring software on a device without the owner's consent may violate the Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA) and the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA), with penalties up to five years imprisonment.[18] State laws provide additional restrictions, with many jurisdictions explicitly criminalizing non-consensual surveillance.[19]

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has taken enforcement actions against similar stalkerware companies. In 2021, the FTC banned SpyFone and its CEO from the surveillance business, marking the first outright ban of a stalkerware company.[20] The FTC has indicated that marketing surveillance tools without adequate safeguards against illegal use may constitute unfair or deceptive practices.[21]

Use in domestic violence

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Law enforcement and domestic violence organizations have documented cases where Hoverwatch and similar applications were used to stalk and control intimate partners.[22] The National Network to End Domestic Violence reports that stalkerware symptoms are often present in domestic abuse cases, with survivors struggling to explain how abusers know about their communications and locations.[23]

Security vulnerabilities

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Independent security audits have identified vulnerabilities in stalkerware applications' infrastructure, including weak authentication mechanisms and insufficient encryption of stored data.[24] Between 2017 and 2018, hackers breached data from eight different spyware providers, exposing sensitive personal information of monitored individuals.[25]

Detection and removal

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Major antivirus vendors including Kaspersky, Bitdefender, and Malwarebytes detect Hoverwatch as potentially unwanted software or stalkerware.[26] Security experts recommend checking for unusual battery drain, data usage patterns, and suspicious applications with generic names as indicators of potential monitoring.[27]

Domestic violence advocates emphasize that removing stalkerware can escalate abuse if the perpetrator discovers their surveillance has been compromised. They recommend consulting with domestic violence organizations before taking action.[28]

Market position

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Hoverwatch operates in the mobile monitoring software market alongside competitors including mSpy and others identified in industry research.[29] Pricing ranges from $24.95 to $99.95 per device annually, positioning it in the mid-market segment.[30]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Khoo, Cynthia (2019-06-01). "The Predator in Your Pocket: A Multidisciplinary Assessment of the Stalkerware Application Industry". Citizen Lab, University of Toronto. Retrieved 2024-10-28.
  2. ^ "Helping survivors of domestic abuse: What to do when you find stalkerware". Malwarebytes Labs. 2019-07-30. Retrieved 2024-10-28.
  3. ^ "Researchers probe shady, dangerous stalkerware app industry". CSO Online. Retrieved 2024-10-28.
  4. ^ "Pitch for Hoverwatch". The Startup Pitch. 2013-01-01. Retrieved 2024-10-28.
  5. ^ "Stalkerware: What To Know". Federal Trade Commission Consumer Advice. 2024-04-23. Retrieved 2024-10-28.
  6. ^ "Hoverwatch Mobile Tracker App Review". SafeTricks. 2017-01-01. Retrieved 2024-10-28.
  7. ^ "Software espía móviles" (in Spanish). SocialGeek. 23 September 2016. Retrieved 2024-10-28.
  8. ^ "Hoverwatch Review: Complete Ecosystem". TechPhlie. 2018-07-01. Retrieved 2024-10-28.
  9. ^ "Hoverwatch Mobile Tracker Review". AndroidCrush. Retrieved 2024-10-28.
  10. ^ "Hoverwatch Review: Spy Software for Android, Windows and Mac". CompsMag. 2017-01-01. Retrieved 2024-10-28.
  11. ^ "Hoverwatch Review: A featureful and cost-effective phone and computer monitoring solution". TechnoFAQ. 2017-01-01. Retrieved 2024-10-28.
  12. ^ "Free Phone Spy App". JustWebWorld. 2016-01-01. Retrieved 2024-10-28.
  13. ^ "EFF Urges FTC to Investigate Stalkerware App Network". Electronic Frontier Foundation. 2022-03-17. Retrieved 2024-10-28.
  14. ^ Parsons, Christopher; Molnar, Adam; Dalek, Jakub; Knockel, Jeffrey; Kenyon, Miles; Haselton, Bennett; Khoo, Cynthia; Deibert, Ronald (2019-06-01). "The Predator in Your Pocket: A Multidisciplinary Assessment of the Stalkerware Application Industry". Citizen Lab Research Report. University of Toronto.
  15. ^ "Coalition Against Stalkerware". Retrieved 2024-10-28.
  16. ^ Khoo, Cynthia; Robertson, Kate; Deibert, Ron (2019-06-01). "Installing Fear: A Canadian Legal and Policy Analysis of Using, Developing, and Selling Smartphone Spyware and Stalkerware Applications". Citizen Lab. Retrieved 2024-10-28.
  17. ^ "Technology Safety". National Network to End Domestic Violence. Retrieved 2024-10-28.
  18. ^ Citron, Danielle (2015). "Spying Inc". Washington and Lee Law Review. 72 (3): 1243–1282.
  19. ^ "Stalkerware's legal enforcement problem". Malwarebytes Labs. 2019-11-17. Retrieved 2024-10-28.
  20. ^ "FTC Bans SpyFone and CEO from Surveillance Business". Federal Trade Commission. 2021-09-01. Retrieved 2024-10-28.
  21. ^ "Stalkerware: An Overlooked Harm Draws the Attention of the FTC". Harvard Journal of Law & Technology. 2021-10-16. Retrieved 2024-10-28.
  22. ^ "Stalkerware: Violates Privacy & Perpetuates Digital Abuse". Duke Ethical Tech. 2020-09-29. Retrieved 2024-10-28.
  23. ^ "Technology Safety & Privacy: A Toolkit for Survivors". National Network to End Domestic Violence. Retrieved 2024-10-28.
  24. ^ "The Predator in Your Pocket" (PDF). Citizen Lab. 2019. Retrieved 2024-10-28.
  25. ^ "Stalkerware: Violates Privacy & Perpetuates Digital Abuse". Duke Ethical Tech. 2020-09-29. Retrieved 2024-10-28.
  26. ^ "Helping survivors of domestic abuse". Malwarebytes. 2019-07-30. Retrieved 2024-10-28.
  27. ^ "Stalkerware: What To Know". Federal Trade Commission. 2024-04-23. Retrieved 2024-10-28.
  28. ^ "Technology Safety Planning with Survivors". National Network to End Domestic Violence. Retrieved 2024-10-28.
  29. ^ "Researchers probe shady, dangerous stalkerware app industry". CSO Online. Retrieved 2024-10-28.
  30. ^ "Hoverwatch Pricing". OzBargain. 2016. Retrieved 2024-10-28.
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Category:2011 software Category:Android (operating system) software Category:Windows software Category:MacOS software Category:Spyware Category:Computer security exploits Category:Domestic violence Category:Privacy software Category:Computer surveillance