- RING Doorbells, Smart TVs and Amazon Alexas are among the ten
most common devices used by perpetrators of domestic abuse
- New investigative research with 2,000¹ UK women highlights the
growing problem of tech abuse
- Refuge and Avast launch new interactive tool to
empower women to secure the connected devices within their
homes
LONDON, Oct. 19, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Avast
(LSE:AVST), a global leader in digital security and privacy, and
Refuge, the national domestic abuse charity, have outlined the top
ten internet-connected (IoT) devices that are most commonly
reported by victims of domestic abuse as being used against them.
For most people, smart devices offer convenience in the home and
while manufacturers such as Amazon, Google and Apple take
precautions to mitigate abuse, in the wrong hands,
internet-connected devices can be used by abusers to harm and exert
control over their partners. Refuge has experienced increased
reports from women seeking guidance on how to secure their
technology, and support with the most common devices reported to
Refuge as follows:
- RING doorbells
- Amazon Alexa & Amazon Echo
- Google Home Hub
- Nest systems and smart thermostats
- Smart TVs
- Smart Plugs
- Fitness trackers and Smartwatches (Apple Watch)
- Wireless systems
- Smart locks
- CCTV Cameras
Despite the reports Refuge has received, wider research of 2,000
women in the UK carried out by Avast and Refuge found that nearly
half (48%) were unable to name a single device they believed could
be vulnerable to abuse, increasing to 60% for those over the age of
55. Further to this, 66% of women did not know where to get
information to help secure the devices in their home if they felt
they had been compromised by an abuser– rising to 79% for those
aged 45 and over.
The research also illustrates how such technology is used in
abuse scenarios: just over half (64%) of women in the UK have admin
control over the IoT devices in their own homes; one in four (27%)
stated that admin access for these devices has not been shared
equally or with transparency in their household; and 18% of women
said they have no control over the Wi-Fi settings in their home,
but their partner or family member does. Furthermore, 41% of women
in the UK stated that a partner or family member knows the password
to their personal devices – with 28% of these women saying that
they did not give this password willingly.
Ruth Davison, CEO of Refuge,
said, "While the findings from this research are deeply concerning,
we believe they only scratch the surface of a much harsher reality.
Many women might not be able to spot the signs that they have been
coerced into giving their password to an abusive partner or unaware
that an abusive member of their household is spying on them through
their Wi-Fi. The reality is one in four women will experience some
form of domestic abuse in their lifetime, and tech abuse is
increasingly part of that problem, which is why Refuge teamed up
with Avast. Not only are we trying to raise awareness of this
issue, but we want to equip women to mitigate against the potential
dangers of these devices in the wrong hands."
To help women regain control of their digital devices and
environment, Avast and Refuge have joined forces to launch an IoT
home safety tool: https://refugetechsafety.org/hometech. This
interactive tool is designed to highlight the ways smart home
devices can be misused and help women keep their devices safe and
free from abuse.
The interactive tool [pictured below] replicates a typical home
setting, highlighting these devices in situ. When each device is
clicked on, it will provide women with easily actionable steps to
secure the device.
Jaya Baloo, CISO at Avast, said,
"The United Nations called domestic abuse and violence against
women at the height of the Covid-19 crisis a 'shadow pandemic' and
tech abuse plays a large part in this growing problem. Our threat
researchers found that there has been a 93% increase in the use of
spyware and stalkerware apps in the UK since lockdown measures were
introduced, and we stress-tested these ten devices reported to
Refuge. They are all extremely popular and common, so we have
focused on providing clear and actionable advice for women on how
to keep their devices secured from misuse."
Louise's Story of Tech Abuse
Louise*, a tech abuse
survivor supported by Refuge, said:
"My abuser works in tech and had control over our home Wi-fi. He
would tell me I was too stupid to understand it. During the
lockdown, his abuse escalated, and I needed to take steps to
protect myself. I set up some smart home devices to record the
abuse.
It never occurred to me that my abusive partner would be able to
hack these devices and use them against me, to spy on me, to listen
to my calls, to watch me. When I left the house to go out, I'd come
back to my things soiled or missing. But when I'd check the logs on
my home cameras, the recordings of those times weren't there.
I couldn't understand it. I continually doubted myself. My
abuser would deny ever having touched anything but would drop hints
to let me know he knew the contents of my private conversations. It
was terrifying, confusing and traumatic. I didn't know where to
turn for help, but I found Refuge and contacted them for support.
They helped me to recognise my experiences as tech abuse and helped
me slowly regain control of my devices. Although he no longer lives
in my home, I still find it hard to fully relax around my tech. It
never leaves the back of my mind that he could still be listening
and watching. You're never free of it."
*Name has been changed
The IoT Home Safety tool can be found here:
https://refugetechsafety.org/hometech
About Refuge:
Refuge supports more than 7,000 women
and children on any given day and runs the National Domestic Abuse
Helpline, which is the gateway to accessing specialist support
across the country. More than one in four women in England and Wales experiences domestic abuse at some point
in their lifetime, and two women a week are killed by a current or
former partner.
Please signpost to Refuge's National Domestic Abuse Helpline
0808 2000 247, available 24 hours a day 7 days a week for free,
confidential specialist support. Or visit
www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk to fill in a webform and request a
safe time to be contacted or to access live chat (live chat
available 3pm-10pm, Monday to
Friday).
Visit Refuge's Tech Safety Website at www.RefugeTechSafety.org
for information on tech abuse and to find guidance on how to secure
your personal and home devices. For real-time automated guidance on
how to secure your devices, Refuge also has a Tech
Safety Tool.
About Avast:
Avast (LSE:AVST), a FTSE 100 company, is
a global leader in digital security and privacy. With over 435
million users online, Avast offers products under the Avast and AVG
brands that protect people from threats on the internet and the
evolving IoT threat landscape. The company's threat detection
network is among the most advanced in the world, using machine
learning and artificial intelligence technologies to detect threats
in real time. Avast digital security products for Mobile, PC or Mac
are top-ranked and certified by VB100, AV-Comparatives, AV-Test, SE
Labs and others. Avast is a member of Coalition Against
Stalkerware, No More Ransom and Internet Watch Foundation. Visit:
www.avast.com.
Keep in touch with Avast:
- Follow us on Twitter: @Avast
- For security and privacy insights, visit the Avast blog:
https://blog.avast.com/
- For handy guides, advice and tips, visit Avast Academy:
https://www.avast.com/c-academy
- Join our LinkedIn community:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/avast/
- Visit our Facebook group: www.facebook.com/avast
Media Contact:
pr@avast.com
1 Research
Methodology:
This research was conducted by Censuswide in
July 2021, with 2,000 women in the UK
aged 18 and over.
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