Not only is it used daily, but a mobile can also be used to communicate and exchange data thanks to a large number of applications of all kinds. Between private messages, the number of social networks available and the ability to exchange photos or videos, today nothing is easier than meddling in someone’s life.
Thus, as a couple, it can be tempting to succumb to the desire to take a discreet look at your partner’s smartphone. According to an IFOP study carried out in April 2023, 40% of the French admit to having carried out this espionage. Unfortunately, in more than a third of cases, our spy discovers that he has been lied to, if not more seriously. This study also reveals other very interesting points of detail.
Regarding online espionage, we can also cite Avast’s study on the subject. In particular, we learn that, according to this recent study, almost half of the users of online dating apps or websites in the world have already researched a person they met online.
Young people are the ones who spy on their partners the most!
It seems that jealousy fades with age. Indeed, of the total number of people who are victims of a data leak on their mobile phone and perpetrated by their spouse, it turns out that 57% of them are under 25 years of age. At first glance, you might think that men are more jealous than women. However, these ladies spy much more often than these gentlemen. And the figure is not insignificant since the number of women under 35 years of age who acknowledge having already consulted their spouse’s phone reaches 67%.
Of course, these numbers could make us smile, even laugh. Unfortunately, much more serious situations are hidden behind this phenomenon. This is how more than half of the people, mainly women, who have suffered physical or verbal violence from their spouse, have suffered this sad fate after being spied on and judged, rightly or wrongly.
Spying on a partner’s mobile, called Snooping by the Anglo-Saxons, is a particularly widespread phenomenon, especially among the youngest and among women. The consequences can be disastrous. Many wonder if using an antivirus or a VPN can prevent them from stealing their digital privacy. What is it really?
Can antivirus or VPN prevent being spied on?
There are a large number of security processes to protect mobiles. Among these, the terms antivirus or antimalware are known to everyone. Can these types of apps prevent a breach? Viruses and malware are firmware written to infect your mobile and cause malfunctions or learn about your habits for purely commercial purposes. Installing an antivirus or antimalware on your laptop is undoubtedly an excellent initiative.
Among the security solutions that are increasingly known and used, we find the Virtual Private Network, also known as VPN, which has the great advantage of being very cheap. The VPN is a formidably efficient process for browsing the web in complete safety. One of the major failings of the internet is that it displays the personal IP address of the device you are using for all to see. So we can instantly know your geographic location. This is a great help for cyber criminals to attack and hijack data, mostly resold to commercial entities. Using a VPN allows you to replace your personal address with that of a specialized, ultra-secure server. From there, you browse in complete anonymity and it becomes totally impossible to identify yourself.
Find out about Avast’s antivirus and VPN offer anyway!
In the case of espionage between spouses, the searched phone remains directly in the hands of the couple. If you have doubts, installing an antivirus can be interesting. In fact, installing an antivirus such as Avast’s can help against the installation of stalkerware-type software. As a reminder, this type of software is designed to promote unauthorized tracking or surveillance of people or activities. Therefore, it can be used to monitor your partner.
Couple spying: what can you look for in your partner’s smartphone?
The solution mentioned above is extremely effective. However, it must be borne in mind that we are talking here about a life as a couple, and not about a possible protection to prevent access to the mobile by strangers. Wouldn’t protecting access to your smartphone be a way to hide unmentionable things from your life partner? And which mobile apps does our budding spy turn to the most?
If your spouse searches their phone, in 28% of cases, the first instinct is to go to text messages. This is not surprising since this tool is widely used throughout the day to send short messages without wasting time on the phone. In second position comes, of course, the photo gallery that will be visited by 23% of budding spies. In fact, a photo is most of the time unmistakable. Then come the call history and the phone book. It is also interesting to note that 20% of spying is done directly by following your spouse on social media. All these elements lead us to wonder if there is a really effective solution.
So should you hide your smartphone from your partner’s eyes?
We have seen that preventing your partner from having access to your smartphone can very quickly raise doubts and increase jealousy within the couple. According to IFOP figures, this is especially noticeable among the youngest and women. On the other hand, leaving your mobile available to your partner leaves, from the outset, the feeling that you have nothing to hide and that you are attached to your partner.
However, if you do not want to be monitored or your smartphone searched, here is the final advice we can give you:
- Installation of antivirus software to prevent espionage
- Setting a pin code to secure your phone
- Use a lock code sure for your smartphone
This content was produced in collaboration with Avast. The BFMTV newsroom was not involved in the production of this content. BFMTV may receive compensation when one of our readers makes a purchase through the links in this article.
Source: BFM TV
