Stalkerware is an umbrella term for all software used for cyberstalking – using electronic communication to stalk, harass, or frighten a person.
The software is typically designed to run in the system's background, meaning it can collect or distribute information unnoticed.
While stalkerware can be considered malware due to its correlation to malicious intent, it does not fall under that category as long as it's legally distributed. This is why anti-malware programs cannot and will not flag stalkerware as suspicious, meaning that consumers must take precautions before sharing sensitive data via electronic means.