- Woman shares cyberstalking ordeal.
- Indicators of cyberstalking explained.
- Importance of online privacy.
A woman has recounted her ordeal of cyberstalking at the hands of her estranged spouse in an effort to avert a similar fate for others.
Jennifer, who requested anonymity, disclosed that her distressing ordeal commenced when she began receiving peculiar alerts indicating unauthorised access to her social media profiles from unidentified geographical locations.
She stated, “I immediately blocked my stalker and closed my social media accounts, as well as those close to him who might inadvertently provide him with information.”
“It was terrifying to no longer feel capable of communicating as I normally do.” In light of my increased awareness, I exercise caution when disclosing information on the internet in order to mitigate potential risks.
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She emphasised the importance of employing privacy tools, such as filtering and limiting online sharing.
Cyberstalking claims the lives of millions of Americans; in 2019, the U.S. Department of Justice estimated that three million individuals were pursued using technology.
U.S. government research shows that 67% of cyberstalking victims know their stalker, a worrisome fact that few people know.
CEO and co-founder of Keeper Security, Darren Guccione, stated, “Physical and digital environments are more interwoven than ever before.
An increasing number of instances are emerging where the consequences of online conduct manifest in physical life. And the harm inflicted upon victims by malevolent actions can be catastrophic.”
According to Guccione and Jennifer, there are a number of indicators that one may be the target of cyberstalking.
Requests for password resets
“Be suspicious of any password reset request you receive without initiating it for a social media, email, or financial account,” Guccione declared.
“This could be an indication that someone is attempting to change your passwords in order to gain access to your accounts and steal your personal or financial information,” said Cuccione.
If an assailant were to gain control of those accounts, the resulting harm could be extensive and detrimental.
Pretending to be you in public
“Social media profiles posing as you are a classic indicator of cyberstalking; abusers may use these fake profiles to harass friends or disseminate negative rumours.
“If you believe a user has created additional accounts to harass you, you can block those accounts as well and report the user, as the majority of websites have a policy against such conduct,” Guccione advised.
Individuals disclosing personal information to you
“Social media users who are eager to share information that only you or your close circle should know may be using a bogus profile,” according to Guccione.
You should ‘close down’ your social media profiles to the greatest extent possible and contact customer support if you are the target of cyberstalking.
Login attempts from atypical locations
Jennifer detected the unusual areas where her account was accessed after receiving alerts.
She stated, “I began receiving alerts regarding unauthorised login attempts on a subset of my accounts.”
“Upon investigation into their source, I discovered that those logins originated from my estranged husband’s location—at times from the house we once shared, and at other times from his place of employment.”
Arrival of unexplained parcels
Cyberstalking is obvious when Amazon delivers unwanted packages to your home.
To instill fear in their victims, cyberstalkers wish to reveal personal information (such as their address).”
False profiles that befriend you
“Cyberstalkers frequently construct fake social media profiles to harass their victims,” according to Guccione.
Creating several bogus accounts is illegal in most social networks; contact customer care for help.
Individuals who visit locations that you specified online
“Cyberstalking and online harassment are not exclusively confined to the digital realm,” stated Guccione.
The distinction between cyber and physical surveillance can become indistinct, and physical security should not be disregarded. By disabling geotagging on the digital photographs you share online and utilising a virtual private network (VPN), you can effectively obfuscate your true location from potential abusers.
