Breaking up with people has become much more complex in the digital age, with shared logins and apps meaning your ex can keep tabs on you long after you’ve broken up.
If you share devices, it’s entirely possible for an ex to access your email (and from there, your bank accounts) by resetting passwords.
If your partner is abusive, they could also use technology to spy on you or even track you, or use your images to create AI porn, F-Secure cybersecurity and privacy expert Laura Kankaala warned, speaking to DailyMail. com
Even smart lights can be a problem, she explained.
Cybersecurity and privacy expert, Laura Kankaala at F-Secure (F-Secure)
Cyberstalking affects millions of Americans; according to the US Department of Justice, three million people were stalked using technology in 2019.
The alarming fact that too few people know is that 67 percent of cyberstalking victims know their stalker, according to US government research.
Kankalaa said, “Stalking and using modern technology like AI for harassment can also pose a serious threat if the digital breach is not watertight.”
See which devices are looking at your accounts
When there are two of you, it’s very easy to share technology without thinking about it, but this could mean an ex has access to your email and other private messages.
Kankalaa said, “It’s likely that you’ve used your ex’s tablet or laptop at some point and accidentally saved your passwords or logged in but forgot to log out.
‘Check and remove any access to the device before leaving. Many apps like Gmail, social media platforms and others show you which devices are currently logged in with your credentials.
“If you see a device you don’t own, you can log it out remotely through settings.”
Remove dangerous devices
Devices like Apple Airtags and home security cameras can be used by abusive partners, so it’s important to cut yourself off from anything dangerous.
That even extends to ‘smart’ lighting in the home, Kankalaa warned.
Kankalaa said: ‘It’s also important to remove shared Apple AirTags or other similar devices used to track the location of items – which can give an ex-partner a wealth of information about your whereabouts.
‘If you have shared devices or accounts, immediately revoke access to your ex-partner. This includes streaming services, location services, virtual assistants, cloud storage and shared devices.
“While useful in many ways, this technology can potentially be abused to track and harass an ex. “That means connected doorbells and cameras make it possible to see what someone is doing anywhere in the world, door sensors can reveal when someone leaves the house and turning on lights with smart bulbs can reveal movements between rooms.”
Deepfake porn
It’s very easy to ‘clone’ your voice if a partner has access to recordings of you, for example on a shared social media account.
Cloned voices can be used for everything from cheating to bank fraud.
Kankalaa said: ‘It’s also trivial to clone someone’s voice – just one minute of sample audio of your voice, obtained from social media for example, can be used to create a really convincing AI-generated version of your voice.
‘The illegal use of this technology can be used to send voice messages using your voice for the purpose of defamation. Unfortunately, modern technology can make the aftermath even worse.
‘Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) makes it possible to create convincing fake images, videos and audio of anyone – by anyone.
‘Deepfakes can be created with very easy-to-use applications that require no technical expertise. At worst, they are misused to replace someone’s likeness with, for example, pornographic material.
‘There are disturbing examples around the world of how fake pornographic images have been used to bully, harass or even threaten people.’
Revoke your partner’s access to social media accounts and shared image libraries, Kankalaa advises.
Change the passwords you have NOT shared
Most of us have shared accounts with a partner (for Netflix, for example, or Uber Eats), but the most important thing is to change EVERYTHING, including the accounts you haven’t shared.
Kankalaa said, “Your partner may know you well enough to guess what your password would be for all your accounts, so it’s better to be safe than sorry. It is essential to have strong, unique passwords for all accounts that need to be protected. Change these regularly and use a password manager to organize them all.’
Check for ‘stalkerware’
If you are in an abusive relationship, it is entirely possible that your partner is installing software to control you.
Abusive partners often use technology to spy on their exes (Shutterstock)
Kankalaa said: “This is one of the most important actions after a difficult break with a hostile partner and should be the first check. Stalkerware apps can be used to track a person’s location in real time, access call logs, read messages, listen in through the device’s microphone, and even access the camera to track a person or to spy on his surroundings.
‘One of the signs of stalkerware apps being installed on an Android device is that it can become very warm due to constant location tracking. For iPhone, it’s best to review the list of active sessions on iCloud to see if any unrecognized devices are accessing information on your phone.
‘To check for stalkerware, view the list of applications on your device. If there are any apps you don’t recognize, investigate further to find out what they are.