What is Cyberstalking?

In today's digital and ever-evolving technical world, the internet and IoT devices have become means to stalk and harass individuals and groups. Cyberstalking and digital harassment spans from accusations and defamation to identity theft and information stealing.

With a digital stalker's ability to follow you anywhere any time, learn how to protect yourself and be aware of this evolving threat.

How Can Individuals Prevent Cyberstalking?

While there is no one size fits all solution to cyberstalking, there are a few options that people of any level of technical expertise can do to strengthen their personal security.

• Limit Personal Information Online: Limit how much personal information you share on social media and in your emails.
• Reset Your Passwords: If you have a troubling incident with someone close to you, consider resetting all social media and email passwords to something they would not know or be able to guess.
• Check Your Privacy Settings: Privacy settings on social media sites like Facebook change regularly. Check to make sure the current settings are right for you.

What Should You Do If Someone Stalks You Online?

• Trust Your Instincts: If you are uncomfortable, it’s time to shut the situation down. Remove yourself from the situation and block the individual if you can.
• Keep Evidence: Keep any digital evidence. Though it may feel better to delete it, it is safer for you to have evidence in case it gets worse. Consider creating a backup of the evidence and storing it in a different location.
• Block: Though blocking harassers does not always prevent them from continuing to harass, it is a step you can take to help defuse the situation.
• Go to the Police: Take all the evidence you have and go to the police if the situation feels life-threatening.

Why is Cybereason Talking About Cyberstalking?

Preventing cyberstalking embodies Cybereason's mission to reverse the attacker advantage and empower the defender. Every individual should be free of cyberstalking and digital harassment. We want this page to help individuals understand just how much this impacts survivors and how to help protect against it. This page is part of our SecureMA event series, teaching the community how to more effectively protect themselves in the face of cyber threats.

20% of women and 6% of men will experience stalking in their lives.

- NCVRW

"THIS IS A PEOPLE AND SOCIETY ISSUE. IT WILL NOT BE SOLVED BY CREATING A MAGICAL TOOL TO PREVENT ALL THIS." 

- PROFESSOR RAYMOND HANSEN, CYBERSECURITY AT WENTWORTH INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

1 in 4 victims report being stalked through the use of technology

- stalkingawareness.org