The founding father of a U.S.-based spyware and adware firm, whose surveillance merchandise allowed clients to spy on the telephones and computer systems of unsuspecting victims, pleaded responsible to federal fees linked to his long-running operation.
pcTattletale founder Bryan Fleming entered a responsible plea in a San Diego federal courtroom on Tuesday to fees of laptop hacking, the sale and promoting of surveillance software program for illegal makes use of, and conspiracy.
The plea follows a multi-year investigation by brokers with Homeland Safety Investigations (HSI), a unit inside U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. HSI started investigating pcTattletale in mid-2021 as a part of a wider probe into the trade of consumer-grade surveillance software program, often known as “stalkerware.”
That is the primary profitable U.S. federal prosecution of a stalkerware operator in additional than a decade, following the 2014 indictment and subsequent responsible plea of the creator of a phone surveillance app called StealthGenie. Fleming’s conviction might pave the way in which for additional federal investigations and prosecutions in opposition to these working spyware and adware, but additionally those that merely promote and promote covert surveillance software program.
HSI mentioned that pcTattletale is one in all a number of stalkerware web sites below investigation.
A spokesperson for ICE didn’t instantly remark when contacted by TechCrunch, nor did a consultant for the U.S. Lawyer’s Workplace for the Southern District of California, which introduced the costs in opposition to Fleming.
Fleming’s lawyer Marcus Bourassa didn’t reply to a request for remark Tuesday.
pcTattletale was a distant surveillance app that had been below Fleming’s management since a minimum of 2016. Stalkerware apps like pcTattletale permit strange shoppers to purchase software program able to monitoring individuals and their knowledge with out their information, together with romantic companions and spouses, which is prohibited in the USA and lots of different international locations.
As soon as bodily planted on an individual’s telephone or laptop (often with information of the sufferer’s passcode or login), the app would repeatedly add a replica of the sufferer’s data, together with messages, images and placement knowledge, to pcTattletale’s servers and make the info accessible to whoever planted the spyware and adware.
Fleming shut down pcTattletale in 2024 following a knowledge breach, which noticed a hacker deface the corporate’s web site and steal reams of information from its servers, together with identifiable data belonging to its clients and their victims. Greater than 138,000 clients who had signed up to make use of pcTattletale had their breached data shared with data breach notification site Have I Been Pwned.
On the time, Fleming advised TechCrunch that his firm was “out of enterprise and utterly carried out,” after deleting the contents of pcTattletale’s servers.
Regardless of the shutdown, federal brokers have been already far into their investigation of Fleming’s unlawful spyware and adware enterprise.
Feds search founder’s $1.2M residence
HSI started investigating pcTattletale in June 2021 after discovering over 100 stalkerware web sites providing surveillance merchandise, a lot of which marketed lawful makes use of of the software program, akin to monitoring kids or staff.
pcTattletale stood out as a result of it was particularly promoting its spyware and adware for “surreptitiously spying on spouses and companions,” wrote HSI particular agent Nick Jones in the 2022 affidavit in assist of a search warrant for Fleming’s residence. The affidavit was unsealed in early December 2025 forward of Fleming’s anticipated plea listening to.
Crucially for investigators, Fleming was believed to be working pcTattletale from his residence in Bruce Township, Michigan, properly inside attain of U.S. legislation enforcement — not like many abroad stalkerware operators who aren’t.
In contrast to some stalkerware operators who defend their identities to keep away from authorized and reputational dangers from working with spyware and adware, Fleming was brazen in how he marketed pcTattletale. In videos posted on YouTube, Fleming may very well be seen at his residence selling pcTattletale as its creator and founder.
Based on the affidavit, HSI obtained a warrant in 2022 permitting the search of Fleming’s electronic mail accounts. HSI mentioned the emails confirmed that Fleming “knowingly assisted clients looking for to spy on nonconsenting, non-employee adults.”
Federal brokers later surveilled Fleming’s residence to substantiate it was in truth him.
Jones additionally went undercover to gather proof, posing as an affiliate marketer below the guise of selling the spyware and adware in alternate for a minimize of the proceeds. Because of this operation, Jones exchanged emails with Fleming, during which the pcTattletale founder offered photographs meant for banner advertisements that promoted the spyware and adware as a technique to “catch a cheater,” which made it clear Fleming wished to market his product for unlawful functions.
By November 2022, HSI had obtained permission from a U.S. choose to look Fleming’s residence, which brokers raided quickly after, seizing an unknown variety of objects. Brokers additionally obtained data related to Fleming’s financial institution and his PayPal account, which had transactions totaling greater than $600,000 as of the tip of 2021.
The search warrant was filed below seal amid considerations that Fleming might destroy or tamper with proof. Fleming has since offered the home for $1.2 million, per public records.
Fleming’s conviction is a win for privateness advocates and campaigners who work to counter the proliferation of stalkerware and lift consciousness to its risks.
Eva Galperin, the director of cybersecurity on the Digital Frontier Basis and the co-founder of the Coalition Towards Stalkerware, who has investigated and fought stalkerware for years, commented on Fleming’s responsible plea when reached by TechCrunch.
“Probably the most placing elements of this case is the extent to which stalkware corporations like pcTattletale function out within the open,” mentioned Galperin. “It is because the individuals behind these corporations so not often face penalties for promoting instruments that they themselves say are explicitly for monitoring different individuals’s gadgets with out their information or consent.”
“I hope that this case adjustments the chance calculus for makers of stalkerware,” mentioned Galperin.
Fleming is predicted to be sentenced later this yr.
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When you or somebody you already know wants assist, the Nationwide Home Violence Hotline (1-800-799-7233) gives 24/7 free, confidential assist to victims of home abuse and violence. In case you are in an emergency scenario, name 911. The Coalition Against Stalkerware has sources in the event you suppose your telephone has been compromised by spyware and adware.
