Operating-System Design and Its Implications for Victims of Family Violence: The Comparative Threat of Smart Phone Spyware for Android Versus iPhone Users

Abstract

Spyware products sold to general consumer audiences are a greater threat to those who own Android devices than those who own iPhones. This is a consequence of the Android operating system being more permissive of software functionality, allowing third-party developers greater latitude to build programs of less-restrained capability. Such risks, however, are disproportionately carried by victims of family violence who are significantly threatened by the rise of spyware. This article reflects on the connections between coding choices and personal security risks, and the implications for responding to the use of spyware in the context of family violence.

No Privacy Among Spies: Assessing the Functionality and Insecurity of Consumer Android Spyware Apps

“…Most related to our work, several prior studies have examined the technical capabilities of spyware apps, including both industry reports [41,72,[76][77][78][79][80][81][82][83][84][85] and academic papers [86][87][88][89][90][91]. However, many of these efforts focus on documenting the functionalities supported by the spyware apps and do not shed light on the implementation used to achieve different functionalities (mostly because they focus on other facets instead of the technical implementation challenges).…”

Workplace Violence at Apple Inc. as a Result of Prejudice

“…Forty-nine young employees were poisoned by the hexane, a toxic chemical used for wiping cleaning display screens of iPad to speed their efficiency. For the Company to save money, the Lanjian Technology factory did not provide adequate and proper ventilation, which promoted the employees to develop neurological problems, numb limbs, the loss of monitoring function, and neurological problems (Harkin & Molnar, 2021). Some employees were bought off by approximately $1,200 to $1400 United States dollars after signing an agreement form that states they could not come up with claims against the Company or the future suppliers.…”

Technology-Based Responses to Technology-Facilitated Domestic and Family Violence: An Overview of the Limits and Possibilities of Tech-Based “Solutions”

“…Consumer Spyware Industry Molnar and Harkin (2019) outline an investigation into the threats of consumer spyware. It explored the industry developing products that aid DFV perpetrators instalking and "spying" (see also Harkin & Molnar, 2020;Harkin et al, 2019). The research targeted nine different spyware products and subjected them to both "user analysis," whereby the researchers purchased and deployed the spyware on Android and iOS phones for the purposes of viewing how the spyware operates from the perspective of the abuser and the "target," and also to "technical analysis" that was sub contracted to the cyber-security consultancy group HackLabs (Australia).…”