Kaspersky Report: 45% Experience Tech-Enabled Abuse, Majority Unaware

Digital technology, intended to simplify life, is increasingly being misused as an instrument of harassment. A new report from global cybersecurity firm Kaspersky reveals a worrying statistic: 45.7% of respondents admitted to experiencing at least one form of tech-enabled abuse in the last 12 months. Ironically, despite nearly half of respondents being victims, the study found a wide ‘awareness gap’. Only 32% of people truly understand what the term tech-enabled abuse means. This indicates that many individuals experience digital harassment without realising they are the target of criminal or unpleasant behaviour. Tech-enabled abuse refers to negative actions carried out or amplified through digital platforms such as smartphones, social media, or unauthorised monitoring. Because it often leaves no physical evidence and blends into daily communication, such behaviour is frequently normalised or overlooked by victims. Based on data gathered from 7,600 respondents across various countries, including Indonesia, one of the most dangerous threats highlighted is stalkerware, software that allows perpetrators to secretly spy on a victim’s private life through their mobile device. Throughout 2024-2025, more than 34,000 users were detected as affected by this threat across 160 countries, with Russia, Brazil, and India being the most impacted regions. Kaspersky Digital Footprint Intelligence also discovered a thriving ecosystem of doxing services on the dark web. Services to expose an individual’s personal data are offered at prices ranging from the equivalent of $50 to $4,000 (approximately Rp800,000 to Rp65 million). Dr Leonie Maria Tanczer from UCL Computer Science emphasised that the lack of a common framework makes the problem difficult to measure. ‘This lack of clarity means many experiences go unnamed, unreported, and unsupported,’ she said. As a practical step, Kaspersky will participate in the international Technology Abuse Conference in London on 19–21 May 2026. Through a specialised workshop, experts will provide practical guidance for the public on identifying and combating increasingly sophisticated cyberstalking threats.