Cheap software used to stalk domestic violence victims

DOMESTIC violence perpetrators are stalking their expartners by hacking into their devices using $35 software.

Police fear thousands of victims may have been targeted across the country, with the Australian Federal Police raiding residential properties in Victoria and South Australia last week as part of a worldwide probe into the practice.

Police believe the Imminent Monitor Remote Access Trojan (IM-RAT) has been used thousands of times in Australia, with victims of family violence the most common targets. The software has now been shut down.

Police believe domestic violence offenders have used the software to hack into computers and phones of ex-partners to monitor their emails, messages and movements.

The hacking software also allows them to spy on victims in real time via cameras and microphones. Digital experts are now examining online information to try and identify victims.

Chris Goldsmid, Acting Commander of cybercrime operations at the AFP, said: “We are working through the data we have got to identify victims and offenders.”

So far the global investigation – which has also involved police from the UK, Netherlands, New Zealand, Belgium and the US – has uncovered a network of people who supported the distribution and use of the software across 124 countries.

Sales records show more than 14,500 people bought the software.

“This has been a complex investigation, both legally and technically,” Acting Cdr Goldsmid said.

“The software has been used to commit real crimes against real people.”