Relationships Talk

If you haven’t yet caught up with the TV series You, it’s basically a show where Penn Badgley plays an obssessed stalker (in most people’s opinions), or possibly a “romantic” at heart (to some others like Millie Bobby Brown).

No matter what side of the fence you fall on, the reality is that it’s 2019, and there is certainly a dating app for everything. There’s one for dog lovers, one for people who are turned-on by chin scruff, and one for those who can’t stomach gluten.

There are also a lot of crazies out there.

If you don’t happen to have access to your potential love interest’s old phone and access to his or her cloud account (like on the show), well, there’s a new type of app that’s creepier than ever: “Spy apps” aren’t helping people find love, they’re invading people’s privacy, and adding a new layer of “OMG is this really a thing?” when it comes to the dating world. 

So what exactly are spy apps? 

According to Kim Komando, who dishes the latest news on digital security threats and scams on The Kim Komando Show, spy apps are the latest weapon in relationship dramas. 

“This is done through secret keylogging apps let you see your partner’s emails and texts, track them with GPS and, if you pay enough, access their Instagram and Snapchat accounts,” Komando reports. 

These keylogging apps have been around for years as a way for parents to monitor their kids online and cellphone usage, and for bosses to monitor their employee’s computer use, but not they are entering the dating world and it’s just creepy. 

The worst part about these apps is that you might not even know one is currently running on your phone or computer (cue the paranoia). 

“Don’t get paranoid that a spying app is on your phone, but there are signs to look for. Your battery could be draining faster than usual and you might see an increase in your data usage. Look to see what downloaded apps have been on your phone. Check your account at the Apple App Store or Google Play,” says Komando.  

So are these things legal? Yes, but not in the dating space. 

“According to Harvard Law’s website, although keyloggers facilitate a major invasion of privacy, they are legal in many jurisdictions.

On an individual level, many parents utilize this software as a way to protect their children when they are online, which again is legal.” There’s nowhere in this report, or elsewhere, that says it’s legal to use with someone you’re dating, or married to, especially if they haven’t given you permission to spy on them. 

If you want to make sure that none of these spy apps are capturing your every move, every time you pick up your phone or turn on your computer, below is a list of ways, according to the website, Celltrackingapps.com, to help you get rid of them as soon as possible:

Check out the list of installed applications in Settings

• All apps you don’t remember to install should be deleted immediately
• Install one of the most valuable anti-virus programs and scan your phone’s system and memory
• Delete every strange app or file anti-virus will offer you
• Don’t miss any updates of your anti-virus

Credit: Netflix

Personal Space is Bravo’s home for all things “relationships,” from romance to friendships to family to co-workers. Ready for a commitment? Then Like us on Facebook to stay connected to our daily updates.