Cyberstalking – All You Need To Know

Did you know that 20% of individuals believe that their romantic partner could install cyberstalking programs on their phones? This statistic highlights the prevalence of internet stalkers, a type of cybercriminals.

Learning about what cyberstalking is, its consequences, the laws in place to protect victims, and how to safeguard yourself from a cyberstalker becomes essential.

What is Cyberstalking?

Cyberstalking is a form of cyber harassment where a cybercriminal uses electronic communication, such as email or direct messaging, to intimidate, scare, or threaten someone with physical harm. This behavior can take various forms and can have extreme consequences for the victims, such as:

• Blackmailing someone by using their personal information or photos
• Sending a virus to someone’s devices to destroy or manipulate incriminating data
• Monitoring someone’s online activity or physical location
• Stealing a person’s identity for financial gains
• Sending death threats or other overt threats of violence to someone
• Doxxing is the act of publishing a victim’s private information online
• Cyberbullying someone by posting degrading statements about them publicly
• Posing as a victim online to cause harm to someone’s life or career
• Threatening with doctored photos or deepfakes of the victim or their family

Consequences of Cyberstalking

Cyberstalking can have devastating consequences for its victims, extending far beyond the digital realm and impacting various aspects of their lives. Emotionally, victims often experience profound distress, including fear, anxiety, and a sense of helplessness. The constant threat of being monitored or harassed online can lead to a pervasive feeling of vulnerability, affecting their overall mental well-being and quality of life.

Physically, the stress and anxiety resulting from having internet stalkers can manifest in varying physical symptoms, such as headaches, insomnia, and digestive issues. Victims may also experience a decline in their physical health due to the ongoing psychological strain of being targeted and the disruption of their normal routines.

Socially, cyberstalking can isolate victims from their support networks and communities. Fearing judgment or further harassment, victims may withdraw from social settings, both online and offline, leading to increased feelings of loneliness and alienation. This social isolation can further exacerbate the emotional toll of cyberstalking and make it more difficult for victims to seek help or support.

In addition to the personal consequences, having cyberstalkers can also have practical implications for victims’ daily lives. They may feel compelled to change their online behavior, limit their use of social media, or even avoid certain places or activities in an effort to evade their harassers. This disruption of their routines and activities can impact their work, education, and relationships, creating additional stress and uncertainty.

Furthermore, cyberstalking can pose a direct threat to victims’ safety and security. In some cases, stalkers may escalate their behavior to real-life threats or acts of violence, putting victims and their loved ones at risk. Victims may live in constant fear for their physical safety, requiring them to take measures such as seeking legal protection or relocating to a safer environment.

Overall, the consequences of cyberstalking are profound and multifaceted, affecting victims’ mental, emotional, physical, social, and practical well-being. It is necessary for victims to seek support from trusted individuals, mental health professionals, and law enforcement agencies to address the harm caused by internet stalking and to take steps to protect themselves from further victimization.

Cyberstalking Laws

In the United States, cyberstalking is illegal, but there are limited federal protections in place. Some of the existing federal laws include:

• The Combat Online Predators Act increased the maximum prison sentence for those who stalk minors online.
• Title 18 is an anti-stalking law that prohibits various forms of stalking, including using electronics to cause harm or distress.
• The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) strives to protect women from violence and harassment, with new prevention and prosecution measures added in 2022.

Many laws protecting citizens from internet stalking are at the state level, so it’s important to contact your local law enforcement agency if you’re unsure of your rights. The VAWA also established the National Resource Center on Cyber Crimes Against Individuals to enhance protections for victims of cybercrime and to provide training for investigators and law enforcement personnel in dealing with these types of crimes.

Tips to Protect Yourself Against Cyberstalking

To prevent cyberstalking, it is crucial to take proactive measures to protect your personal information. Follow these essential tips to enhance your online privacy:

1. Adjust Privacy Settings:

• Review and improve the privacy settings on your social media accounts.
• Set your posts to be visible to “friends only” to limit access to people you know.
• Avoid publicly sharing your address or phone number, and consider using a separate email ID for social media purposes.
• When sharing private information with friends, use private messages instead of public posts.
• Consider using a gender-neutral screen name or pseudonym instead of your real name on social media.
• Leave optional fields, such as your date of birth, blank on social media profiles.
• Only accept friend requests from individuals you have met in person, and adjust your settings to accept requests only from friends of friends.
• Disable geolocation settings and, if necessary, turn off GPS on your phone.
• Remove personal data from the web, especially if it’s outside your social media accounts. Contact third-party websites to request data removal and consider using a post box or office address instead of your home address for certain purposes.

2. Exercise Caution with Personal Information:

• If using online dating services, avoid providing your full ID or personal information over email. Only share your phone number with individuals you have met in person and trust.
• Beware of phone calls or emails requesting personal details. Always confirm the legitimacy of the request before providing any information.

3. Secure Your Devices:

• Protect your smartphone and PC from hacking attempts by implementing basic security measures.
• Exercise vigilance when using public Wi-Fi and consider employing a Virtual Private Network (VPN) for additional security.
• Use strong and regularly updated passwords for your devices and accounts.
• Be mindful of where you leave your smartphone to prevent unauthorized access.
• Use anti-spyware software to detect and eliminate any malicious software from your devices.
• Always remember to log out of your accounts when you are done using them, and avoid installing apps that request access to your contact lists without a clear purpose.

How do I Recognize & Report Cyberstalking?

Recognizing cyberstalking is important for your safety. Here are some signs to watch out for:

• Do you suspect that someone is tracking your location using GPS or another system?
• Are you receiving unwanted, frightening, or obscene email IDs or text messages?
• Have you found evidence of someone using spyware, cameras, or listening gadgets to monitor you?
• Is an individual harassing or threatening you on the internet, social media, or your cell phone?
• Is someone deliberately making social media posts or spreading rumors to embarrass you?
• Is someone monitoring your internet and computer usage?

Cyberstalkers may be people you know, such as a former spouse or partner or even strangers. While victims are often women, men can also be targets of cyberstalking.

If you witness cyber harassment or receive threats, you must report it to the police immediately. Many police departments have specialized units to handle cyber crimes and internet scams. Before contacting the authorities, consider taking these steps:

• Scan your devices for spyware or other malware.
• Save any messages or images that prove the harassment.
• Keep a record of the dates and times you received the messages.
• Report the cyberstalker if the situation escalates or if you feel your safety is at risk.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) operates the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). In addition to reaching out to your local police, you can report a complaint online to report internet stalking and other cybercrimes to the FBI.

If you’re concerned about your safety, seek help using a public computer or somebody else’s device to prevent the internet stalker from interfering with your efforts to report them.

Stopping Cyberstalkers in their Tracks

It is more effective to prevent cyberstalking than to handle the aftermath. It’s important to be prepared for online stalking before it occurs. Take proactive steps to protect yourself from cyberstalkers, such as:

• Cease communication: Inform the individual to stop reaching out to you. If they persist, block them on social media and contact their internet service provider. Cyberstalking on social media is widespread, so Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and almost every other social media platform offer tools to block electronic harassment. If the cyber harassment comes through email, establish a filter to redirect their emails to a spam folder. Moreover, block any unwanted online messages.
• Review your security: You can never be certain of a cyberstalker’s true motives or the lengths to which they will go to stalk you. Conduct a comprehensive security check of your online accounts and devices to prevent cyberstalking. Use an anti-spyware tool to ensure that suspicious apps are not on your phone and create strong passwords for your online accounts. If an internet stalker installs spyware on your iPhone or Android, remove it immediately.

• Keep evidence: If you suspect that you are being stalked online, gather evidence to report to the police. Even if it appears that your cyberstalker has vanished, it’s crucial to document the abuse. Capture screenshots of the messages they’ve sent you, including timestamps, and save them in case you need to refer to them later. If you need to report internet stalking, having evidence to support your claim is important.
• Use fake profiles as a decoy: If someone is cyberstalking you, you can attempt to mislead the perpetrator by introducing more false information about yourself. Create a decoy account on the platform they are familiar with and establish an anonymous, authentic-looking profile to help protect yourself.
• Report cyberstalking to the police: Many police departments have a specialized cyberstalking unit and are knowledgeable about how to report online stalking. Even if you don’t have enough evidence to warrant prosecution for stalking, filing a report will document the incident, and the police can assist you in handling future attacks.

FAQs About Cyberstalking

If you are still unsure about “what cyberstalking is?” or “what is an internet stalker?”, the following commonly asked questions will help you relax and clear up any confusion you may have.

Many individuals commonly refer to the term “stalking” when describing the act of closely monitoring someone’s online presence, such as their social media activities, and delving extensively into their profiles in a manner that goes beyond casual interest. However, it’s important to note that keeping tabs on an ex-partner or browsing through a friend’s social media likes is not inherently illegal, as long as these actions do not amount to cyber harassment or other criminal behavior.

Yes, cyberstalking is a crime in many jurisdictions involving the use of electronic communication to harass or threaten individuals. It includes behaviors such as unwanted contact, monitoring or tracking, impersonation, online surveillance, threats, and intimidation.

Online stalking laws vary by country and region, with penalties ranging from fines to imprisonment. It’s important for individuals to be aware of their rights and legal protections and to report instances of internet stalking to the appropriate authorities for investigation and prosecution.

Cyberstalking is a dangerous form of cyber harassment that can have severe consequences for victims. It involves harassment, intimidation, and intrusion into the victim’s personal life using digital platforms and technology. Internet stalking can cause emotional distress, anxiety, and fear for one’s safety, leading to feelings of helplessness and isolation. It can escalate to real-life stalking or physical violence, posing a serious threat to the victim’s safety and well-being. Victims may need to alter their online behavior or contact information to escape the cyber harassment, disrupting their social connections and overall sense of security. Moreover, a lot of internet scams begin this way. It is crucial to raise awareness, implement legal frameworks, provide support services for victims, and promote digital literacy to prevent and address cyberstalking.

Cyberstalking and cyberbullying are two related digital phenomena involving harassment, intimidation, or harm. Cyberbullying often occurs among young people and involves repeated acts of harassment, humiliation, or exclusion through social media or messaging apps. Cyberstalking, on the other hand, involves deliberate and persistent targeting of an individual with unwanted attention, threats, or surveillance. Both highlight the need for proactive measures to prevent and address online harassment.