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Digital Forensics

Cell Phone Spyware Removal

Forensic detection and removal of spyware, stalkerware, and unauthorized monitoring software on iPhone and Android devices. Performed by Cellebrite and Magnet Forensics certified examiners — evidence is preserved for prosecution where appropriate and your phone is returned clean.

Examiner Certs Cellebrite / Magnet
Devices iOS / Android
Evidence Court-Admissible
Confidentiality Absolute
Service Overview

If your phone is compromised, we'll prove it and clean it.

5 min
Average Time To Install Stalkerware

Stalkerware and spyware on personal phones is a real and growing problem. Apps like mSpy, FlexiSpy, Hoverwatch, Cocospy, and dozens of others can be installed on a phone in under five minutes by anyone with physical access to the device, and they then silently transmit messages, calls, GPS location, photos, and microphone audio to the person who installed them.

Most victims are surveilled by an intimate partner — current or former. Domestic abuse, stalking, custody disputes, divorce litigation, and corporate espionage are the most common contexts. The surveillance is often invisible to the victim, who notices only secondary signs: battery drain, hot device, slow performance, a partner who somehow knows things they shouldn't.

Our practice combines certified digital forensics with practical victim support. We conduct a full forensic examination of the device, document the spyware (including who installed it and where the data is being sent), preserve evidence for potential criminal prosecution and civil action, and then return your phone clean. The examination is fully confidential and the report is admissible in court.

What's Included

The complete forensic examination.

Every spyware case includes the following workflow — from intake through clean-phone return and ongoing protection guidance.

Forensic Acquisition

A complete forensic image of the device is captured using Cellebrite UFED or Magnet AXIOM — preserving every artifact, including data the operating system normally hides from the user.

Spyware Identification

We identify installed monitoring software by signature, behavior, network activity, and persistence mechanism. Common stalkerware vendors have known fingerprints — we know them and find them.

Attribution Investigation

We work to identify who installed the spyware. Most stalkerware vendors require an account, payment information, and a destination — these leave traces in device logs, network records, and vendor data accessible through subpoena.

Evidence Preservation

Forensic image and findings are preserved under documented chain of custody — admissible in criminal prosecution under Florida's stalking and electronic surveillance statutes and in civil protective order proceedings.

Spyware Removal

Once evidence is preserved, the device is cleaned — spyware removed, permissions revoked, accounts reviewed, two-factor authentication restored, and the phone returned to a secure state.

Protection Guidance

We brief you on how to protect against re-installation, recognize warning signs of compromise, secure your iCloud or Google account, and respond to a current abuser who has had device access.

Our Process

How we work.

A clear four-stage process from intake through final report. Updates throughout — no black-box investigations.

Step 01
Confidential Intake

A private consultation — by phone, video, or at our Miami office — to understand the context. If you're in active danger, our first step is helping you reach safe ground; the forensic work follows. We do not contact anyone without your authorization.

Step 02
Device Examination

You provide the device (or we coordinate secure transport). The forensic acquisition typically takes 2–4 hours for an iPhone, 1–3 hours for Android. You can remain present during the examination at our Miami office.

Step 03
Findings Review

We walk you through what we found, when it was installed, what data was being captured, and what we can document about who installed it. Decisions about prosecution, protective orders, or civil action are yours — we provide the evidence to support whichever path you choose.

Step 04
Clean Phone Return

Spyware is removed, security is restored, and the phone is returned operational. We provide written protection guidance and remain available to support follow-on legal action.

Why Valdes

Certified forensic examiners — not technicians.

Anyone can run a 'spyware scanner' app. Forensic examination capable of identifying sophisticated stalkerware, preserving evidence to legal standards, and supporting prosecution is different work — and it requires certified examiners using forensic-grade tools.

  • 01
    Cellebrite and Magnet certified
    Our examiners hold current certifications on Cellebrite UFED and Magnet AXIOM — the same forensic platforms used by federal and state law enforcement nationwide. These are the tools required for court-admissible mobile forensics.
  • 02
    Chain of custody from minute one
    Every device is logged into evidence custody on receipt, examined under documented procedure, and tracked through return. The forensic image, the examiner's notes, and the final report are all admissible.
  • 03
    Attribution where possible
    We do not just find the spyware — we work to identify who installed it. Vendor account records, payment trails, and installation timestamps frequently identify the abuser, supporting both criminal referral and civil action.
  • 04
    Survivor-centered process
    Many of our spyware clients are survivors of domestic abuse or stalking. The intake, examination, and reporting are structured around victim safety — we do not contact subjects, we do not produce reports that could escalate danger, and we coordinate with victim advocates when requested.

Forensic Credentials

Cellebrite CertificationCCO, CCPA, CCME
Magnet ForensicsAXIOM Certified
Florida Agency LicenseA1700169
Court TestimonyState & Federal
Evidence StandardsChain of Custody
LanguagesEnglish, Spanish
Typical Engagements

Who comes to us with compromised phones.

Domestic Abuse Survivors
Stalkerware Detection & Safe Removal

An abusive partner or ex has installed monitoring software. We document the surveillance, preserve evidence for protective order proceedings and prosecution, and return the phone clean.

Divorce Litigants
Spousal Surveillance Cases

A spouse has been monitoring the device — often during a divorce. The recovered evidence supports motions for protective orders and is relevant to custody and equitable distribution proceedings.

Custody Disputes
Co-Parent Phone Monitoring

An ex-partner has installed monitoring software on a shared device or the parent's phone. Particularly common where shared Apple IDs or family Google accounts have been weaponized.

Executives
Corporate Espionage Concerns

Senior executives, M&A principals, and individuals with sensitive information who have reason to believe their phones are compromised. Discrete forensic examination and remediation.

High-Profile Individuals
Targeted Surveillance Concerns

Public figures, attorneys handling sensitive matters, and individuals receiving targeted harassment. Examination and ongoing security guidance.

Attorneys
Client Device Examination

Family law and criminal defense attorneys engaging us to forensically examine a client's device — either to find evidence of surveillance or to document the device as part of a defense or prosecution.

Frequently Asked

Answers to common questions.

What are the signs my phone has spyware?
Common signs include unexplained battery drain, the device running hot when idle, high background data usage, unfamiliar apps installed, unusual settings changes you didn't make, a partner who somehow knows information you haven't shared, and — for iPhones — discovering that your Apple ID is logged into a device you don't own or that Find My is enabled to share your location with someone you didn't authorize. None of these is definitive on its own, but multiple symptoms together are a meaningful indicator. The only way to confirm is forensic examination.
Can spyware really be installed on an iPhone?
Yes, though it's harder than on Android. The most common attack vector on iPhones is not malware installed on the phone itself but rather Apple ID compromise — an abuser who knows your Apple ID password can access iMessage, photos, location, and backups from any device by signing in as you. Some sophisticated stalkerware does require jailbreaking the phone, which is detectable forensically. Less sophisticated attacks abuse legitimate Apple features like Family Sharing, Find My, and Screen Time. We identify all of these during examination.
Will the person who installed the spyware know I had it removed?
Most stalkerware vendors send the installer a notification when their target's device goes offline for an extended period, when the spyware is uninstalled, or when the device is reset. This is a real consideration — for some clients, immediate removal is the right call, while for others (particularly active surveillance cases where evidence collection is ongoing) leaving the spyware in place under investigation control is the better strategy. We discuss this with you before any action is taken and the decision is yours.
Is it illegal to install spyware on someone's phone?
Yes — in nearly every situation involving an adult target who has not consented. Florida's stalking statute (§ 784.048), the federal Stored Communications Act (18 USC § 2701), the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (18 USC § 1030), and the federal Wiretap Act (18 USC § 2510) all apply. Installing monitoring software on a partner's phone without consent is criminal conduct, regardless of marriage, relationship, or whether the phone is on a shared account. We preserve evidence to support prosecution where the victim chooses to pursue it.
Should I just factory reset my phone?
Factory reset will remove most spyware — but it also destroys the evidence of who installed it, when, and what was being captured. If you have any potential need for that evidence (protective order, divorce, custody, prosecution), factory resetting before forensic examination eliminates your strongest leverage. We recommend the examination first, then remediation. If you're in immediate danger and cannot wait, prioritize safety — but tell us, and we can sometimes recover information from backups even after a reset.
How much does it cost?
Standard cell phone forensic examination for spyware detection ranges from $1,500 to $3,500 depending on the device, the complexity of the case, and whether attribution investigation is included. More extensive cases — multiple devices, comprehensive iCloud/Google account review, ongoing monitoring — are priced separately. We provide firm pricing after a confidential intake call.
Will my data be private during the examination?
Yes. Forensic examination involves a complete image of the device, but the data is reviewed only by the assigned examiner under strict confidentiality. We do not share, retain, or analyze personal content beyond what is necessary to identify the spyware and document the surveillance. After the case closes and any required evidence preservation period has elapsed, the forensic image is securely destroyed unless you direct otherwise.
Can you support me through the legal process?
Yes. Our examiners testify in protective order hearings, criminal proceedings, and family court matters. We provide signed reports, evidence declarations, and live testimony. We also coordinate with victim advocates, family law attorneys, and prosecutors as the case requires.

If you suspect your phone is compromised, act now.

Confidential intake by phone or video. We can typically schedule examination within 48 hours — sooner for active safety situations.

Call (786) 717-7412 Book a Consultation