You feel it before you know it. A phantom battery drain. A warmth in your pocket for no reason. The unsettling sense that your own device is breathing down your neck.

This isn't just a glitch. It's a ghost in the machine.

We begin with an anonymous email and a phone returned from a coffee shop—a little too charged, a little too changed. Invisible software known as stalkerware can turn your pocket into a panopticon.

Join the Glitch Investigator on a trace through hidden processes and digital dread. For a detailed guide on spotting the signs, see our companion blog post.

Listen, if you've ever felt your phone was watching you back.