Domestic abuse charity Refuge has teamed up with cybersecurity firm Avast to produce a digital breakup kit that equips survivors with the knowledge to stay safe digitally, after a relationship ends.

Tech abuse can be anything from unwanted messages, spyware or stalkerware being installed on devices, to controlling, tracking, coercing, or harassing someone via home technologies. Refuge reported a 97% increase in the number of tech abuse cases supported between April 2020 and May 2021 and in the first 5 months of 2021.

To tackle the ever-increasing issues around tech abuse, the toolkit provides essential information on how numerous platforms and apps can be misused, ranging from banking, social media, entertainment, travel and even food delivery apps. There’s also a step-by-step guide on how to identify potential tech-based vulnerabilities and re-establish privacy and security, to protect yourself from continued contact or abuse from ex-partners.

A survey commissioned by the two organisations, which sought the views of 2,000 people across the country, found that 47% of people knew someone else’s online passwords, 55% their current partner’s, and 20% an ex’s. One in 10 could track their ex’s physical location through various friend-finding or location tools.

Of those who knew their ex’s password(s), 35% admitted they still had access to an ex’s Facebook account, and 33% said they could still access their ex’s work email account if they wanted.

Equally concerning, the survey reported that 42% of women said they used the same password across multiple services, and 26% of those whose partner or ex knew their password said they would not know how to secure their account or device it if was compromised.

Avast CISO Jaya Baloo says:

“This interactive tool is designed to provide awareness of the various digital platforms a partner or ex-partner might have access to, whether it’s their social media accounts, online banking, or live location through apps such as Uber or Strava.

“The tool also provides women with the necessary knowledge to secure these digital platforms against potential tech abuse from a partner or ex-partner. In creating this tool, we hope to empower women to take control of their devices and enable them to enjoy their digital freedom, either at the start or end of a relationship.”

Ruth Davison, Refuge CEO says:

“While the findings from this research are deeply concerning, we believe they only scratch the surface. We know many women might not know , or recognise that they have been coerced into giving their password to an abusive partner or ex-partner, or what this person is doing with the information they have access to.”

Whilst the toolkit was created with women survivors in mind, it is useful for anyone to protect themselves against any potential threat of tech abuse from ex-partners.

Want to know more?

Do you work with survivors or perpetrators of domestic abuse? Or are you a strategist, manager, commissioner or policy maker? This is for you.
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Got a question? Lorna Tam is Equation’s Domestic Abuse and Tech expert.Email: techabuse@equation.org.uk