Michigan Man Learns the Hard Way that “Catch a Cheater” Spyware Apps Aren’t Legal

Michigan man learns the hard way that “catch a cheater” spyware apps aren’t legal

In 2002, Bryan Fleming helped to create pcTattletale, software for monitoring phone and computer usage. Fleming's tool would record everything done on the target device, and the videos would be uploaded to a server where they could be viewed by the pcTattletale subscriber. This might sound creepy, but it can also be legal when used by a parent monitoring their child or an employee monitoring their workers. These are exactly the use cases that we…

Spyware Founder Bryan Fleming Pleads Guilty to Hacking Charges

The Shadowy Downfall: How pcTattletale’s Founder Crossed the Line into Criminal Surveillance In a federal courtroom in Michigan this week, Bryan Fleming, the founder of the notorious spyware company pcTattletale, entered a guilty plea to charges of computer fraud and conspiracy to commit hacking. The plea, announced on January 6, 2026, marks a significant milestone in the U.S. government’s crackdown on so-called stalkerware—software marketed for…

pcTattletale Founder Bryan Fleming Pleads Guilty in Federal Stalkerware Case

Bryan Fleming, founder of pcTattletale, pleads guilty in a landmark federal spying case. Read how an undercover HSI sting and a data breach ended a decade of illegal stalkerware sales.

Stalkerware operator pleads guilty in rare prosecution

The owner of a Michigan-based stalkerware company pleaded guilty to federal charges for selling a product designed to spy on people without their consent.