Virus & Malware Removal · 7 min read
How to Remove Spyware and Stalkerware
Spyware watches quietly: keystrokes, screenshots, credentials, location. Commercial stalkerware adds a difficult dimension, because it is usually installed by someone the victim knows.
Published 2026-08-09 · Last updated 2026-08-09
Before you remove anything, consider safety
If you suspect stalkerware installed by a partner or family member, removal alerts the person monitoring you. In an abusive situation, contact a domestic-violence support organisation before changing anything, and use a different device to seek help.
Signs of spyware
Battery drain and heat with no obvious cause, unexplained data usage, an unfamiliar device administrator or accessibility service on Android, and security software that was silently disabled.
Removing spyware on Windows
Scan in safe mode with your antivirus plus a second-opinion scanner, then review installed programs, startup entries, scheduled tasks and remote-access tools you did not install. Anything offering unattended remote control deserves scrutiny.
Removing spyware on Android
Check Settings for device admin apps, accessibility services and apps with unusual permissions, then revoke and uninstall. Where an app cannot be uninstalled normally, remove its device-admin status first. A factory reset is the reliable option when in doubt.
After removal: assume credentials are exposed
Change passwords from a clean device, revoke active sessions, enable two-factor authentication, and check account recovery settings — added recovery emails and phone numbers are the most common way access is retained after removal.
Frequently asked questions
- Will antivirus detect stalkerware?
- Often, but not always — some tools are commercially sold as parental monitoring and are detected only as potentially unwanted. Manual review of device admin and accessibility permissions matters.
- Does a factory reset remove spyware?
- On phones, yes, provided you do not restore a backup that contains the app. On Windows, a clean install removes consumer spyware.