{"id":8503,"date":"2026-04-06T12:21:23","date_gmt":"2026-04-06T17:21:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/?p=88497"},"modified":"2026-04-06T12:21:23","modified_gmt":"2026-04-06T17:21:23","slug":"pctattletale-stalkerware-maker-sentence-includes-fine-supervised-release","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/2026\/04\/06\/pctattletale-stalkerware-maker-sentence-includes-fine-supervised-release\/","title":{"rendered":"pcTattleTale stalkerware maker sentence includes fine, supervised release"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><head> <meta charset=\"UTF-8\"> <meta name=\"viewport\" content=\"width=device-width, initial-scale=1\"> <meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-image-preview:large, max-snippet:-1, max-video-preview:-1\"> <!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v24.5 (Yoast SEO v27.1.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ --> <title>pcTattleTale stalkerware maker sentence includes fine, supervised release | CyberScoop<\/title> <meta name=\"description\" content=\"A federal judge has sentenced the maker of stalkerware pcTattleTale, which went out of business after a data breach, to supervised release and a $5,000 fine.\"> <link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/pctattletale-stalkerware-maker-sentence-includes-fine-supervised-release\/\"> <meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\"> <meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\"> <meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"pcTattleTale stalkerware maker sentence includes fine, supervised release\"> <meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"A federal judge has sentenced the maker of stalkerware pcTattleTale, which went out of business after a data breach, to supervised release and a $5,000 fine.\"> <meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/pctattletale-stalkerware-maker-sentence-includes-fine-supervised-release\/\"> <meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"CyberScoop\"> <meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/cyberscoop\/\"> <meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-04-06T17:21:23+00:00\"> <meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-04-06T17:21:26+00:00\"> <meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/pctattletale-stalkerware-maker-sentence-includes-fine-supervised-release-2.jpg\"> <meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1920\"> <meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1295\"> <meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\"> <meta name=\"author\" content=\"Tim Starks\"> <meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\"> <meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@timstarks\"> <meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@CyberScoopNews\"> <!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. --> <link rel=\"dns-prefetch\" href=\"\/\/securepubads.g.doubleclick.net\">\n<link rel=\"dns-prefetch\" href=\"\/\/use.typekit.net\">\n<link rel=\"alternate\" type=\"application\/rss+xml\" title=\"CyberScoop \u00bb Feed\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/feed\/\">\n<link rel=\"alternate\" type=\"application\/rss+xml\" title=\"CyberScoop \u00bb Comments Feed\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/comments\/feed\/\"> <link rel=\"stylesheet\" id=\"all-css-2\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/wp-includes\/css\/dist\/block-library\/style.min.css?m=1774626878g\" type=\"text\/css\" media=\"all\"> <link rel=\"stylesheet\" id=\"all-css-6\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/wp-content\/mu-plugins\/search\/elasticpress\/dist\/css\/related-posts-block-styles.min.css?m=1775074092g\" type=\"text\/css\" media=\"all\"> <link rel=\"stylesheet\" id=\"all-css-8\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/wp-content\/themes\/scoopnewsgroup\/dist\/css\/frontend.css?m=1775068334g\" type=\"text\/css\" media=\"all\">\n<link rel=\"stylesheet\" id=\"typekit-css\" href=\"https:\/\/use.typekit.net\/itk2qbh.css?ver=13897d660a0ac2c9c7d1\" media=\"all\"> <link rel=\"https:\/\/api.w.org\/\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/wp-json\/\"><link rel=\"alternate\" title=\"JSON\" type=\"application\/json\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/88497\"><meta name=\"generator\" content=\"WordPress 6.8.5\">\n<link rel=\"shortlink\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/?p=88497\">\n<link rel=\"alternate\" title=\"oEmbed (JSON)\" type=\"application\/json+oembed\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/wp-json\/oembed\/1.0\/embed?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcyberscoop.com%2Fpctattletale-stalkerware-maker-sentence-includes-fine-supervised-release%2F\">\n<link rel=\"alternate\" title=\"oEmbed (XML)\" type=\"text\/xml+oembed\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/wp-json\/oembed\/1.0\/embed?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcyberscoop.com%2Fpctattletale-stalkerware-maker-sentence-includes-fine-supervised-release%2F&amp;format=xml\"> <!-- Google Tag Manager --> <!-- End Google Tag Manager --> <link rel=\"icon\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/01\/cropped-cs_favicon-2.png?w=32\" sizes=\"32x32\">\n<link rel=\"icon\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/01\/cropped-cs_favicon-2.png?w=192\" sizes=\"192x192\">\n<link rel=\"apple-touch-icon\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/01\/cropped-cs_favicon-2.png?w=180\">\n<meta name=\"msapplication-TileImage\" content=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/01\/cropped-cs_favicon-2.png?w=270\"> <\/head><body class=\"wp-singular post-template-default single single-post postid-88497 single-format-standard wp-theme-scoopnewsgroup wp-child-theme-cyberscoop\" id=\"readabilityBody\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/pctattletale-stalkerware-maker-sentence-includes-fine-supervised-release\/#main\" class=\"skip-to-content-link visually-hidden-focusable\">Skip to main content<\/a> <\/p>\n<div class=\"ad ad--top ad--top-desktop\">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p> <main id=\"main\" role=\"main\" tabindex=\"-1\"> <\/p>\n<div class=\"ad ad--top ad--top-mobile\">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<section id=\"stickybar\" class=\"stickybar stickybar--newsletter js-stickybar\" readability=\"0.82\"> <button class=\"stickybar__close js-stickybar-close\" aria-controls=\"stickybar\"> <svg class=\"icon icon--close\" width=\"21\" height=\"22\" viewBox=\"0 0 21 22\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"m.822.518-.805.805L9.695 11 .017 20.678l.805.805 9.678-9.678 9.677 9.678.806-.805L11.305 11l9.678-9.677-.806-.805-9.677 9.677L.822.518Z\" fill=\"currentColor\" \/><\/svg> <span class=\"visually-hidden\">Close<\/span> <\/button> <\/section>\n<article class=\"single-article content\">\n<div class=\"single-article__container js-single-article-content\">\n<header class=\"single-article__header \" readability=\"25.939953810624\">\n<div class=\"single-article__header-content\" readability=\"35.469586374696\">\n<p> Bryan Fleming won\u2019t face prison time for a count to which he pled guilty in January, in a rare case of a successful U.S. stalkerware prosecution. <\/p>\n<p> <!-- Listen to this article section --> <!-- Audio Element --><br \/>\n<audio id=\"audio-player\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-tts-cdn.api.scpnewsgrp.com\/cyberscoop\/88497\/english.openai.mp3\"><\/audio> <\/p>\n<div readability=\"11\">\n<div>\n<p>Listen to this article<\/p>\n<p> <!-- Countdown Timer --> <\/p>\n<p>0:00<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> <!-- Tooltip --> <\/p>\n<p> <span id=\"tts-tooltip\">Learn more.<\/span> <span> This feature uses an automated voice, which may result in occasional errors in pronunciation, tone, or sentiment. <\/span> <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <!-- End of audio player --> <\/div>\n<div class=\"single-article__cover-wrap\">\n<figure class=\"single-article__cover\"> <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" fetchpriority=\"high\" width=\"640\" height=\"432\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/pctattletale-stalkerware-maker-sentence-includes-fine-supervised-release.jpg?resize=640%2C432&#038;ssl=1\" class=\"single-article__cover-image wp-post-image\" alt decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/pctattletale-stalkerware-maker-sentence-includes-fine-supervised-release-2.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/pctattletale-stalkerware-maker-sentence-includes-fine-supervised-release-2.jpg?resize=300,202 300w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/pctattletale-stalkerware-maker-sentence-includes-fine-supervised-release-2.jpg?resize=768,518 768w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/pctattletale-stalkerware-maker-sentence-includes-fine-supervised-release-2.jpg?resize=1024,691 1024w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/pctattletale-stalkerware-maker-sentence-includes-fine-supervised-release-2.jpg?resize=1536,1036 1536w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/pctattletale-stalkerware-maker-sentence-includes-fine-supervised-release-2.jpg?resize=600,405 600w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/pctattletale-stalkerware-maker-sentence-includes-fine-supervised-release-2.jpg?resize=249,168 249w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/pctattletale-stalkerware-maker-sentence-includes-fine-supervised-release-2.jpg?resize=500,337 500w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/pctattletale-stalkerware-maker-sentence-includes-fine-supervised-release-2.jpg?resize=1001,675 1001w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/pctattletale-stalkerware-maker-sentence-includes-fine-supervised-release-2.jpg?resize=1250,843 1250w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1001px) 100vw, 1001px\"><figcaption> Milamai, Getty Images <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"single-article__content\">\n<div class=\"single-article__content-inner has-drop-cap\"> <html readability=\"23.758620689655\"><body readability=\"50.680041688379\"><\/p>\n<p>A federal judge has sentenced the maker of stalkerware pcTattleTale, which went out of business after a data breach, to supervised release and a $5,000 fine.<\/p>\n<p>Bryan Fleming pleaded guilty in January to a charge of intentionally manufacturing, possessing or selling a device with the knowledge that it would be primarily used for surreptitious interception of communications. On Friday, a judge handed down Fleming\u2019s sentence.<\/p>\n<p>It was the first stalkerware conviction since 2014, when the maker of StealthGenie, pled guilty and also didn\u2019t serve prison time, instead receiving a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/tech\/security\/seller-stealthgenie-cellphone-spyware-fined-500-000-n256311\">$500,000 fine<\/a> from the court.<\/p>\n<p>According to Fleming\u2019s plea agreement, his incriminating activity began as early as 2017, as the owner of Fleming Technologies LLC.<\/p>\n<div class=\"ad ad--inline_1 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u201cDefendant\u2019s software enabled buyers to covertly and remotely monitor a victim\u2019s cellular telephone and computer activities, including, texts, emails, phone calls, geo-location, and web browsing,\u201d the agreement states. \u201cDefendant began directly advertising his spying software to persons wanting to spy on spouses or partners without their knowledge.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>It continued: \u201cDefendant\u2019s spying software covertly created a video every time a victim\u2019s device was used, which captured any and all activity occurring on the device. The person monitoring the device could log into a remote dashboard and monitor the activity on the victim\u2019s device.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>An undercover agent from Homeland Security Investigations, a division of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, posed as a marketing affiliate and customer to communicate with Fleming, according to a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.documentcloud.org\/documents\/26360457-pctattletale-search-warrant-affidavit\/?mode=document&amp;q=undercover#document\/p12\">2022 indictment<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>pcTattletale <a href=\"https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/2024\/05\/28\/pctattletale-spyware-shutters-data-breach\/\">went out of business<\/a> in 2024 after suffering a data breach. Researchers have found that stalkerware apps often <a href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/stalkerware-app-spying-abuse-eset\/\">fail to protect personal information<\/a> collected during their use.<\/p>\n<p>An attorney for Fleming didn\u2019t immediately respond to a request for comment Monday morning.<\/p>\n<p><\/body> <\/p>\n<footer class=\"single-article__footer\">\n<div class=\"author-card\" readability=\"7.7216117216117\">\n<div class=\"author-card__avatar\">\n<figure class=\"author-card__image-wrap\"> <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"author-card__image\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/pctattletale-stalkerware-maker-sentence-includes-fine-supervised-release-1.jpg?w=640&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Tim Starks\"> <\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-card__details\" readability=\"10.901098901099\">\n<h4 class=\"author-card__name\">Written by Tim Starks<\/h4>\n<p> Tim Starks is senior reporter at CyberScoop. His previous stops include working at The Washington Post, POLITICO and Congressional Quarterly. An Evansville, Ind. native, he&#8217;s covered cybersecurity since 2003. Email Tim here: <a href=\"mailto:tim.starks@cyberscoop.com\">tim.starks@cyberscoop.com<\/a>. <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"single-article__tags-container\">\n<h4 class=\"single-article__tags-title\">In This Story<\/h4>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/footer>\n<p> <\/html><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"single-article__ads js-single-article-sidebar\">\n<div class=\"ad ad--sidebar js-single-article-sidebar-5 ad--rightrail_1 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ad ad--sidebar js-single-article-sidebar-4 ad--rightrail_2 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ad ad--sidebar js-single-article-sidebar-3 ad--rightrail_3 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/article>\n<section class=\"latest-podcasts\">\n<h2 class=\"latest-podcasts__title\"> Latest Podcasts\t<\/h2>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"top-categories\">\n<div class=\"top-categories__container\">\n<h3 class=\"top-categories__category-title\">Government<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"top-categories__container\">\n<h3 class=\"top-categories__category-title\">Technology<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> <\/main> <\/p>\n<div class=\"ad ad--bottom \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"interstitial\" class=\"welcome__container\"> <button id=\"close-modal-1\" class=\"welcome__clickable_area\"><\/button> <\/p>\n<div class=\"welcome__ad_wrapper\">\n<p> <button id=\"close-modal-3\" class=\"welcome__continue-button\">Continue to CyberScoop<\/button> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> <!-- Start of HubSpot Embed Code --> <!-- End of HubSpot Embed Code --> <\/body> <a href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/pctattletale-stalkerware-maker-sentence-includes-fine-supervised-release\/\">Source<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>pcTattleTale stalkerware maker sentence includes fine, supervised release | CyberScoop<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[440,5882,5846,6313,268,482,1839,310,288,2345],"tags":[444,5884,5848,6314,274,484,1840,311,294,2348],"class_list":["post-8503","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-data-breaches","category-homeland-security-investigations","category-immigration-and-customs-enforcement-ice","category-pctattletale","category-privacy","category-spyware","category-stalkerware","category-technology","category-threats","category-u-s-courts","tag-data-breaches","tag-homeland-security-investigations","tag-immigration-and-customs-enforcement-ice","tag-pctattletale","tag-privacy","tag-spyware","tag-stalkerware","tag-technology","tag-threats","tag-u-s-courts"],"featured_image_urls":{"full":"","thumbnail":"","medium":"","medium_large":"","large":"","1536x1536":"","2048x2048":"","chromenews-featured":"","chromenews-large":"","chromenews-medium":""},"author_info":{"display_name":"Cyber Scoop","author_link":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/author\/cyberscoop\/"},"category_info":"<a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/data-breaches\/\" rel=\"category tag\">data breaches<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/homeland-security-investigations\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Homeland Security Investigations<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/immigration-and-customs-enforcement-ice\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/pctattletale\/\" rel=\"category tag\">pcTattletale<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/privacy\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Privacy<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/spyware\/\" rel=\"category tag\">spyware<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/stalkerware\/\" rel=\"category tag\">stalkerware<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/technology\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Technology<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/threats\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Threats<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/u-s-courts\/\" rel=\"category tag\">U.S. courts<\/a>","tag_info":"U.S. courts","comment_count":"0","jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8503","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8503"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8503\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8503"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8503"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8503"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}