{"id":8305,"date":"2021-01-28T17:31:18","date_gmt":"2021-01-28T22:31:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.safehorizon.org\/?p=8305"},"modified":"2025-06-10T13:16:00","modified_gmt":"2025-06-10T17:16:00","slug":"protect-yourself-from-cyberstalking","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.safehorizon.org\/safe-blog\/protect-yourself-from-cyberstalking\/","title":{"rendered":"Eight Tips to Protect Yourself from Cyberstalking"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"8<\/p>\n

January 28, 2021
\nBy Wendell Thomas<\/em><\/p>\n

As a society, we have been relying on and using digital technology more and more to connect and live. T<\/span>he COVID-19 pandemic has moved\u00a0<\/span>us more into the digital space as we\u00a0<\/span>work-from-home,\u00a0<\/span>virtually attend<\/span>\u00a0school, and us<\/span>e<\/span>\u00a0electronic forms of communication\u00a0<\/span>24\/7\u00a0<\/span>as a way of life<\/span>. This means that<\/span>\u00a0increased knowledge about cybercrime is more important now than ever.<\/span> While January is recognized as National Stalking Awareness Month,\u00a0<\/span>we should also raise awareness<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>of cyberstalking at any time during the year<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

So<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0what is cyberstalking and what are the steps you can take to protect yourself?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What is\u00a0<\/span><\/b>S<\/span><\/b>talking?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Most of us might be aware of the meaning of stalking. We’ve either have experienced it first-hand, know someone who experienced\u00a0<\/span>it or<\/span>\u00a0ha<\/span>ve<\/span>\u00a0seen it in movies or television.\u00a0<\/span>Stalking<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>can\u00a0<\/span>involve secretly following the victim, consistent and devious phone calls, sending unwanted gifts, and other means of unwanted physical contact.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>For more information on stalking behaviors, visit our facts about Stalking page<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

What is\u00a0<\/span><\/b>C<\/span><\/b>yberstalking?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Like stalk<\/span>ing<\/span>, cyberstal<\/span>king is\u00a0<\/span>intended<\/span>\u00a0to threaten, harass, and embarrass<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>only<\/span>\u00a0with cyberstalking<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>technology\u00a0<\/span>is used. The technology<\/span>\u00a0used by\u00a0<\/span>cyberstalkers<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>can include\u00a0<\/span>social media, email, instant messaging (text and SMS), computers, mobile\u00a0<\/span>devices,<\/span>\u00a0and information available on the Internet.\u00a0<\/span>Over the past ten years, i<\/span>nstances of reported cyberstalking have risen as stalkers have more access to victims’ personal information from online and social media platforms.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Cyberstalking poses additional\u00a0<\/span>threats,<\/span>\u00a0such as sexual harassment, sexual extortion, and damaging a\u00a0<\/span>person\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0reputation. When you add physical and cyberstalking, the threats are compounded and pose more significant harm.\u00a0<\/span>Our new normal, being totally virtual for work, school<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0and a host of other activities, makes it easier for\u00a0<\/span>cyberstalkers<\/span>\u00a0and cyberbullies to track and harass\u00a0<\/span>users<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Here a few key tips to safety plan against cyberstalking:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Search your full name<\/span><\/b>\u00a0with your city and state<\/span><\/b>\u00a0on Google or your preferred search engine.\u00a0<\/span>This<\/span>\u00a0can\u00a0<\/span>show you any\u00a0<\/span>information about you\u00a0<\/span>that<\/span>‘<\/span>s<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>publicly<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>available online.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>This can be<\/span>\u00a0an ideal step\u00a0<\/span>as\u00a0<\/span>you adjust your online privacy settings.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Check your credit report regularly.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/b>You are entitled to a free credit report once a year from the three credit reporting companies<\/span>\u00a0which are\u00a0<\/span>Equifax,\u00a0<\/span>Experian,<\/span>\u00a0and TransUnion.\u00a0<\/span>You can also<\/span>\u00a0sign up for free credit monitoring services such as Credit Karma, which will provide alerts on your credit report activity.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  3. Do not accept \u201cFriend Requests\u201d<\/span><\/b>\u00a0from strangers.\u00a0<\/span><\/b>Remember when you were a kid, and your parents told you\u00a0<\/span>\u201c<\/span>don<\/span>‘<\/span>t talk to strangers<\/span>?\u201d<\/span>\u00a0This advice also applies online.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>O<\/span>n<\/span>ly\u00a0<\/span>a<\/span>ccept\u00a0<\/span>f<\/span>riend\u00a0<\/span>r<\/span>equests from people you have met in person.
    \n<\/span>Review and update your social media profile<\/span><\/b>.\u00a0<\/span><\/b>Wh<\/span>en creating a handle, t<\/span>ry to<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>choose gender<\/span>-neutral<\/span>\u00a0and age-neutral profile\u00a0<\/span>name. You can also<\/span>\u00a0a<\/span>sk your friends and family never to give out your details to anyone.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  4. Review your social media privacy settings<\/span><\/b>.\u00a0 For instance, on Facebook, change your security settings only to allow friends to post on your wall.\u00a0 Turn off facial recognition because if a friend posts a picture of you, Facebook recognizes you and automatically tags you to the image. Turn off location services on Facebook and other social media platforms such as Instagram.\u00a0 Location services can help you discover cool places near you but can also be used to pinpoint the neighborhood you live in or the hip brunch spot you will meet your friends.<\/span>
    \n<\/span><\/li>\n
  5. Change your passwords frequently<\/span><\/b>.\u00a0 It can be once a month or\u00a0<\/span>once\u00a0<\/span>every three months.\u00a0 You can set a reminder to change your password.\u00a0 Create passwords using phrases that are easy to remember, or if your\u00a0<\/span>i<\/span>nternet browser recommends a password, use it, and document it.\u00a0 For additional protection, take advantage of your bank, social media, email provider<\/span>‘<\/span>s two-factor authentication (2FA). If someone gets ahold of your password, they will also have to enter a PIN, and you will be alerted about the attempt to access your account.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  6. Take the time to secure your computer and mobile device<\/span><\/b>\u00a0(phones and tablets)<\/span>\n