Android Users Are Warned to Watch out for MonitorMinor, an Aggressive Monitoring Tool

There is a line between watching over and stalking someone. Android users ought to know that a monitoring tool called MonitorMinor that is supposed to help parents supervise their children has crossed that line. Accordingly, the tool was classified as stalkerware. It seems the application not only lets attackers track their victims’ mobile devices but also obtain various sensitive and private information. Specialists say that it could be used to abuse victims of domestic, dating, stalking, and sexual violence. Further in this blog post we discuss how this application works, how it could be installed on a smartphone, and what you can do if you suspect that you have such spyware on your Android device. If you still have any questions about the discussed monitoring tool after reading our article, we encourage you to use our comments section.

Cybersecurity experts say that while the usage of illegal spyware is in decline, the use of stalkerware is increasing as more and more users find it on their devices. Research shows that such software is mostly used in Russia, India, Brazil, and The United States. The difference between typical spyware and stalkerware is that the attackers behind the latter monitoring tools choose and stalk someone on purpose. In other words, applications like MonitorMinor can be used to abuse someone the stalker knows and is obsessed with: for example, it could be a former girlfriend or boyfriend.

How does MonitorMinor work?

MonitorMinor is advertised as a parental control tool, but, as said earlier, the application appears to be a powerful stalkerware program. Even though the tool’s End User License Agreement states that the application cannot be used for silent monitoring without a person’s consent, there is no way to prevent it. Specialists believe that there are a lot of ways to drop such spyware on Android devices, for example, the stalker could install it himself if he has access to a targeted smartphone.

What makes MonitorMinor so dangerous is its ability to bypass a targeted device’s security mechanisms. According to researchers, the monitoring tool might be able to install the so-called superuser-type utility that grants it root access to a targeted device’s system and enables communication between applications. If for some reason the tool cannot gain root access, it might abuse Android functions called Accessibility that were created for disabled people. By abusing these functions, the stalkerware can record anything that is displayed on a smartphone’s screen.

Consequently, the stalkerware can access data of different communication and social media applications, for example, Skype, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, and many others. Besides accessing data from the described applications, MonitorMinor can also record video and sound using the mobile phone’s camera and microphone. To make matters worse, it seems that the root access might make it possible for the stalkerware to record the targeted device’s PIN or unlock pattern. Thus, if the attacker ever gets near the victim’s mobile phone, he might be able to access it. The application can hide on a targeted device too, so its owner might have no idea that all his messages and other personal or sensitive information is being recorded all the time.

How to protect your device against MonitorMinor?

Researchers say that preventing stalkerware from entering a system is an extremely difficult task. Luckily, it is not an impossible task if you stay alert and take all necessary safety precautions.

Use a strong password

A short and memorable password might help you access your mobile phone faster, but it also places it and your privacy at risk. Therefore, we advise you to use a strong password and, most importantly, not to reveal it to anyone. Always remember that your stalker can be someone close to you, so it is best if no one knows your smartphone’s password.

Be cautious with application requests

To be more precise, specialists advise being careful with tools that require access to the earlier mentioned Accessibility functions on Android devices. It seems, these functions can be abused not only by stalkerware but also by various malicious applications.

Avoid tools from third-party sources

Android devices should block installation of programs from third parties, so all you have to do is never to allow it. Also, we advise researching all applications that you might be interested in carefully before installing them. Some tools might seem harmless, but could be potentially dangerous applications in disguise, which is why you should never let your guard down.

Use antimalware software

A security tool that may come with your smartphone might not be enough to protect your device from stalkerware like MonitorMinor and sophisticated threats alike. Therefore, if you truly care about your device’s and privacy’s safety, you should employ a reputable antimalware tool that could guard your device from various threats, including aggressive monitoring tools.

What can you do if you think that MonitorMinor is on your device?

Noticing spyware on your Android device might be impossible, but if you locate such tools or suspect they could be on your mobile phone, you should act fast. According to cybersecurity specialists, MonitorMinor cannot be removed by regular OS tools once it gets root access. It means that the only way to get rid of the unwanted monitoring tool is to get an antimalware tool that can detect such stalkerware. After it is erased it is advisable to change your mobile phone’s password as well as passwords of your applications and social media profiles. If you do not know how to create strong passwords, you should continue reading here, or you could employ a dedicated tool like Cyclonis Password Manager that could both generate and protect your login credentials.

To conclude, MonitorMinor is not like any other regular parental control tool and is more powerful than regular spyware. It allows not only to track people but also to invade their privacy or obtain sensitive information by reading their messages and other data. Even if the application’s creators did not have such intentions when they were developing this tool, it is clear that it can be used by stalkers and become a powerful tool for abusing people.