Nation’s First Spyware App Criminal Charges Levied Against Alleged StealthGenie Leader

Oct. 3, 2014, 9:57 PM UTC

The alleged creator and marketer of StealthGenie, a smartphone app that lets a purchaser eavesdrop on calls, text messages and more on a target’s mobile phone, has been indicted in Virginia on civil and criminal charges (United States v. Akbar).

The case marks the first-ever U.S. criminal case involving the advertisement and sale of a mobile device spyware app, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia Dana J. Boente said in announcing the civil indictment Sept. 29.

“StealthGenie has little use beyond invading a victim’s privacy. Advertising and selling spyware technology is a criminal offense and such ...

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