pcTattletale founder pleads guilty as US cracks down on stalkerware

According to Malwarebytes, the founder of pcTattletale, Bryan Fleming, has pleaded guilty in US federal court to computer hacking, unlawfully selling and advertising spyware, and conspiracy. The case marks only the second US federal stalkerware prosecution in a decade, and prosecutors say the verdict could open the door to further actions against people who develop, sell, or promote similar tools.

The article notes that Homeland Security Investigations had been examining pcTattletale since June 2021, distinguishing Fleming from others who hide behind overseas shell companies. It also recalls earlier disclosures that pcTattletale’s software captured and leaked victims’ screenshots and that researchers later found vulnerabilities in the app’s API and backend, which were tied to its tracking capabilities. Fleming is expected to be sentenced later this year, as the case progresses through the federal courts.