Catwatchful Monitoring App Data Breach: Exposing Victims' Privacy

TL;DR

The Catwatchful monitoring app has exposed the data of thousands of users due to poor security practices. This incident highlights the broader issue of stalkerware apps compromising privacy and security. Using such apps is illegal and unethical, and it is crucial to be aware of the risks associated with them.

Catwatchful Monitoring App Data Breach: Exposing Victims’ Privacy

Monitoring apps, often marketed as “child monitoring” tools, are expected to handle data with utmost care and respect. However, many of these apps, known as stalkerware, frequently lack adequate security measures. A recent incident involving the Android app Catwatchful has exposed the data of thousands of its users, highlighting the ongoing issue of poor security in stalkerware applications.

The Dangers of Stalkerware

Stalkerware refers to apps and software that enable secret surveillance of someone’s private life through their mobile device or computer. While marketed as parental monitoring tools, these apps are often used for stalking and spying. Domestic violence abusers are among the most common users, installing these programs without the victim’s knowledge¹.

Catwatchful Data Breach

Researcher Eric Daigle discovered that Catwatchful, an app claiming to be “invisible and undetectable,” has exposed sensitive data. The app uploads victims’ photos, messages, real-time location data, and audio recordings to a dashboard accessible by the monitor. However, this data was not stored securely. The exposed database, shared with TechCrunch, contained phone data from 26,000 victims’ devices and the email addresses and plain text passwords of over 62,000 customers.

Previous Stalkerware Breaches

Stalkerware apps continue to pose significant threats to privacy and security. Recent cases have revealed similar issues:

• Spyzie, Cocospy, and Spyic: These apps exposed millions of victims’ private information, including messages, photos, and locations. The breach also compromised the email addresses of over three million customers².
• Spyhide: A security researcher uncovered a decade of surveillance on tens of thousands of Android devices. Poor backend security allowed attackers to access call logs, messages, and location data³.
• mSpy: This monitoring app has suffered multiple leaks, exposing millions of records, including personal documents and monitored activity. Despite repeated breaches, mSpy’s security remains weak⁴.

These incidents underscore the harsh reality that stalkerware companies prioritize profits over privacy, leaving victims and users vulnerable to further harm.

Considerations Before Using a Monitoring App

If you are considering installing a monitoring app, keep the following points in mind:

1. Avoid Using Stalkerware: It is illegal in almost every country to use such apps without the person’s consent, unless authorized by the government.
2. Legal and Ethical Implications: Using stalkerware can lead to severe legal consequences and ethical dilemmas.
3. Ineffective Problem Solving: Stalkerware does not resolve issues; it often exacerbates them.
4. Potential Consequences: The lack of security in these apps increases the risk of data breaches, which can have serious repercussions.
5. Listen to Expert Advice: Consider the insights provided in this podcast.

Check Your Exposure

Data breaches are unfortunately common. To assess how much of your personal data has been exposed online, use Malwarebytes’ free Digital Footprint scan. This tool provides a report and recommendations based on your email address.

Additional Resources

For further insights, check:

• Coalition Against Stalkerware
• Malwarebytes Premium Security
• Malwarebytes Mobile Security

References

1. (2025). “Stalkerware”. Malwarebytes. Retrieved 2025-07-03. ↩︎

2. (2025). “Millions of stalkerware users exposed again”. Malwarebytes. Retrieved 2025-07-03. ↩︎

3. (2023). “60,000 Androids have stalkerware-type app Spyhide installed”. Malwarebytes. Retrieved 2025-07-03. ↩︎

4. (2024). “Dangerous monitoring tool mSpy suffers data breach, exposes customer details”. Malwarebytes. Retrieved 2025-07-03. ↩︎