How does cyberstalking affect a computer users privacy?
With the proliferation of smartphones and social media, cyberstalking is on the rise. Compared to traditional stalking, cyberstalking can be a more threatening form of aggression as cyberstalkers can hide behind the anonymity of the internet and terrorize their victims around the clock. However, there are measures you can take to protect yourself and your privacy. Show
In this article, we’ll explain what cyberstalking is, how cyberstalking invades your privacy, and what you can do to protect yourself and stay safe online. What is cyberstalking?The non-profit organization Protection Against Stalking defines stalking as “a pattern of fixated and obsessive behavior that is repeated, persistent, and intrusive. It causes fear of violence or engenders alarm and distress in the victim”. Cyberstalking is the online extension of traditional stalking and is carried out using online tools such as social media, email, and chat rooms. While traditional stalking often involves physical harassment or assaults, unwanted phone calls, and blackmail letters, cyberstalking includes threats of physical violence, online privacy invasions, and technological attacks. Unlike traditional stalking, cyberstalking does not require close physical proximity to the victim. Instead, it occurs on an omnipresent scale, and has the capacity to do significant harm to the victim’s emotional well-being, social relationships, and reputation through online means. Who is behind cyberstalking?Most cyberstalkers have or used to have a relationship with their victims. They may be a former partner, coworker, or acquaintance. Most cyberstalkers harass their victims for one or more of the following reasons:
According to preliminary research conducted by Leroy McFarlane and Paul Bocji, cyberstalkers usually fall under four profiles:
Cyberstalking as an invasion of your privacyThe ease and convenience of the internet have led to an uptick in cyberstalking crimes. What you post online can reveal a lot about you, and with a bit of research, a cyberstalker can easily access your personal information. If you own multiple social media accounts, a cyberstalker can glean information from each account and construct a detailed profile of you. Additionally, if a cyberstalker gets a hold of your computer, they can even install spyware to track your online interactions, purchases, reading habits, browsing history, and more. Other examples of cyberstalking include:
How to protect yourself against cyberstalkingA cyberstalker can compromise your privacy and intimidate you and your loved ones. The first step to preventing cyberstalking is to post as little information about yourself as you can on the internet. Here are some tips you can take to reduce your digital footprint and protect yourself against cyberstalking. Tip #1: Review your privacy settings on social mediaWhen you post on social media, you’re sharing more than just the post’s content. You might also be sharing information such as:
By reviewing your privacy settings and restricting social media, you can make intentional choices about what content gets shared, with whom, and where. This reduces the likelihood of a cyberstalker discovering information that might endanger your privacy. Tip #2: Use a VPNUsing a VPN has many benefits, but one of its biggest advantages is providing you with a greater level of anonymity. When you connect to a VPN, all of your online traffic is routed through an encrypted tunnel and becomes unreadable to third parties, including your ISP and cyberstalkers. Instead of your real IP address, a cyberstalker only sees the IP address of the VPN server you’re connected to. This masks your physical location, protecting you from potential cyberstalkers. With a VPN, you can surf the internet privately and securely without worrying that your information might fall into the wrong hands. Tip #3: Create strong passwords for online accountsPracticing good password hygiene goes a long way in keeping your online accounts secure against cyberstalkers. According to a Verizon report from 2020, 36% of data breaches involve weak or stolen passwords. If you struggle to remember multiple complex passwords for different online accounts, try using a password manager. A good password manager will generate and save strong passwords for you, keeping your online accounts safe. The only password you will need to remember is your master password, which enables you to sign in to your password manager. Alternatively, you can create a passphrase consisting of a series of words. Passphrases are more secure and easier to remember than a typical password. Changing the capitalization of letters and replacing some letters with numerical and symbolic substitutes can make your passphrase a lot stronger. A secure and complex passphrase might look something like this: Oper@teElseCartOccas!on52. Tip #4: Enable two-factor authenticationTwo-factor authentication (2FA) adds an additional layer of security to your online accounts by requiring a second form of identification. Even if a cyberstalker somehow gets a hold of your username and password, they will not be able to gain access to account data if you have 2FA enabled. You can activate 2FA on an online account and verify your identity through an authenticator app installed on your mobile device. Every time you log in to an online account, your authenticator app will generate a unique code for you to enter before you can gain access to your account. This ensures that a cyberstalker cannot access your online accounts unless they also have possession of your mobile device. Tip #5: Use email aliasesEmail aliases are a great way to organize your inbox and filter out spam, but they can also help preserve your online privacy. Since email addresses often consist of first and last names, creating an email alias without your full name can help you stay more anonymous while registering for online accounts and newsletters. You can create an email alias in two ways:
However, if your goal is to stay as anonymous as possible, you should not create an email alias from an existing email address that contains your real name. Instead, you should set up a new email address that doesn’t reveal your true identity. Tip #6: Record and block all suspicious activityIf you suspect that someone is stalking you online, the first thing you should do is to block the person on all channels. If you move fast to block the cyberstalker’s opportunities to harass you, they may lose interest quickly. You should also add the cyberstalker’s email address to your Block List, so their messages land directly in your spam folder. Additionally, you should gather evidence by keeping a log of stalking-related incidents as they occur. Be sure to include information such as:
Recording all stalking incidents and behaviors will prove useful if you decide to file for criminal prosecution or a protective order. Use Proton Mail to protect yourself against cyberstalkingAs a privacy-first company, our vision is to create a safer and better internet where everyone is in control of their data. Cyberstalking is a threat not only to your security but also your privacy. We believe you should be able to access the internet without worrying if your data might be stolen and how it might be used against you. If you’re concerned about having a cyberstalker, you can use Proton Mail to defend your online privacy and security:
Sign up for a free Proton Mail account You can also register for our free VPN to become more anonymous on the internet. Proton VPN’s Free plan:
When you use Proton Mail and Proton VPN together, you can truly safeguard your privacy and protect yourself against cyberstalkers and hackers. What are the negative effects of cyberstalking?Cyberstalking (CS) can have major psychosocial impacts on individuals. Victims report a number of serious consequences of victimization such as increased suicidal ideation, fear, anger, depression, and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptomology. Research is largely limited to quantitative outcome research.
What is computer cyberstalking?Cyberstalking is the repeated use of the Internet, email, or related digital electronic communications devices to annoy, alarm, or threaten a specific individual or group of individuals (D'Ovidio & Doyle, 2003, p. 10).
What is cyberstalking explain cyberstalking and explain how it works?Cyberstalking is the use of the Internet or other electronic means to stalk or harass an individual, group, or organization. It may include false accusations, defamation, slander and libel. It may also include monitoring, identity theft, threats, vandalism, solicitation for sex, doxing, or blackmail.
What is cyberstalking explain with example?Cyberstalking Examples
Here are some examples of how Cyberstalking might take place: Posting offensive, suggestive, or rude comments online. Sending threatening, lewd, or offensive emails or messages to the victim. Joining the same groups and forums as the victim. Releasing the victim's confidential information online.
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