Cyber-stalking is a rapidly growing trend that many women are finding out that hard way, is legally hard to define and even more difficult to put a stop to. Even law enforcement is behind the curve when it comes to cyber-stalking because it is hard to define any tangible evidence or well defined legal violation. It’s even more difficult to track a cyberstalker because most law enforcement departments simply don’t know how, and unfortunately, don’t yet feel it’s a dangerous threat and see it more as an annoyance situation.
According to some non-government agencies involved in tracking cyberstalking crimes, it is estimated that approximately 6.6 million Americans are victims of cyberstalking. Of those 6.6 million, 1 in 4 women and 1 in 16 are men. So why isn’t cyberstalking getting the attention it should? One of the biggest reasons is that many law enforcement officials see cyberstalking as simple harassment rather than life altering crime that it is. They see it no differently than a stranger cursing at you as they walk by you on the street or shout a threat at you. Although, a threat against your life could be considered a terroristic threat, police seldom make any attempt to follow up on the case because they are usually busy with bigger issues, unless several reports have been filed and they suspect the perpetrator may actually be a threat to public safety.
It’s not really the police’s fault as most departments have not yet caught up to complexities and effects this particular crime can have on the victims and their families. Besides, smaller departments just don’t have the resources or trained personnel to tackle such an intricate crime. Some police departments will direct the victim to the Attorney General, the phone company, or their internet provider. I can assure you that those agencies will not be able to do much aside maybe offering to change your phone number or just giving the victim a case number. Again, an investigation is highly unlikely.
So what can cyberstalking entail and what are the effects? Cyberstalking is similar to the older stalking when the stalker who is obsessed with the victim follows them around watches their every move. With cyberstalking, the stalker does most of the stalking online while hiding behind the anonymity of proxies, fake emails, Trojan horses, and spoofed IP addresses.
The stalker will hack into the victims computer and take whatever personal information they want then literally watch everything the victims does online like read their emails, view the sites they visit, read their online chats, and even turn on the victims web cam. With those actions, the stalker can piece together the victims daily activities, predict where the victim will be at certain times then, use that information to convince the victim that the stalker is watching every aspect of their lives. To prove their control over the victim, the stalker could do things like open the victim’s computer CD tray on command, send a text to their phone, display the victim’s secretly taken photo on their monitor.
Some will take the activity a step further and secretly upload a hidden application to their personal cell phone that allows the stalker to turn on the victim’s phone camera or microphone on to eavesdrop, even when the phone is not in use. The app can even allow the stalker to read the victims texts and listen to voicemails without the victim knowing the own phone is being used against them.
These actions are used to make the
victim believe that the stalker has total control of the victim’s life. That
may put the victim in a very vulnerable position and give in to certain demands
from the victim such as a ransom or something worse. The fear of
reprisals from the stalker often prevents the victim from reporting the
stalking or even telling other people about it because they victim doesn’t know
who the stalker is.
Being the victim in a scenario like
this would no doubt cause the victim to become extremely paranoid and
suspicious of friends and family, coworkers, and any stranger they come in
contact with. Because this crime is so difficult to figure out, it can
literally go on for years.
So how can one avoid being a victim
of cyber stalking? Well, there are too many things to list here, but the basic
things are to start taking precautions before it starts, Don’t make it easier
for the stalker by posting details of your life online.
- Make sure you have strong passwords. Use symbols and numbers, Don’t use the same password for different sites.
- Install virus protection on your computer.
- Disable the GPS function on your cell phone.
- Give a firm “no,” and tell the person to stop, but do this only once.
- Do not respond to the stalker.
- Don’t attempt to engage the stalker in any way.
- Document all incoming correspondence, including emails, instant messages and voicemails.
- Notify a trusted friend or relative of the stalker and ask them not to tell anyone.
- Visit the sites below to learn about other advice.
WiredSafety is the largest and oldest online safety, education, and help
group in the world. Lots of good information and resources here.
WHOA is a volunteer organization founded in 1997 to fight online
harassment through education of the general public, education of law
enforcement personnel, and empowerment of victims.
Another very good cyberstalking
resolution site.
National Cyber Security Alliance builds strong public/private partnerships to create and
implement broad reaching education and awareness efforts to empower users at
home, work and school with the information they need to keep themselves, their
organizations, their systems, and their sensitive information safe and secure
online and encourage a culture of cybersecurity.
State
Cyberstalking and Cyberharassment Laws by State
Don’t be scared, fight back.
FYI: January is Nation Cyberstalking Awareness Month
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