We’ve discussed whether or not it’s okay to spy on your significant other, but now let’s look at things from a different perspective: Is your significant other spying on you?

I think I can speak for most people when I say that even if I’m not hiding anything, I don’t want ANYONE looking through my mail, e-mail, texts or IM’s.

No, I’m not hiding a secret stash of pornography or engaging in a rendezvous with someone, but there is something incredibly unsettling at the thought of someone invading my privacy.

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Helsper and Whitty (2010) recruited 992 British couples and asked them whether they snoop on each other and found that in 44% of the couples there was AT LEAST one partner who was spying on the other.

If you think girls are the only ones capable of being THAT snoopy, think again: Although 43% of women were sole snoopers, 20% of men were sole snoopers and 37% of couples admitted they spied on each other.

Researchers found the following break down on partners and spying:

10% of couples snooped on each others emails
22% of partners had one email snooper.
10% of couples snooped on each others texts
20% of couples had one text snooper
4% of couples looked through each others browsing history
16% of couples had one partner looking through the browsing history

What can you do to protect yourself?

1. NEVER leave your phone unguarded

This means installing a code or password on your phone so only YOU can gain access to it.

2. NEVER save your password on the computer

Keep your password private and install a security question in order to gain access. You may want to look into getting a computer with a fingerprint scanner.

3. Password protect your texts or delete accordingly

Save your phone, emails or gchat’s to be deleted immediately so they cannot be viewed or have them archived into a password protected folder.

Who said love is easy?