Cyberstalking
The result of cyberstalking could be anything; kidnap, rape, theft, and murder. According to statistics, a great percentage of cyberstalking victims are women in almost every part of the world, but men get stalked as well.
Stalkers have improved the techniques they use in carrying out their digital atrocities,
But Here are some ways to recognize a stalker:
1. Unnecessary engagements on social media
There are many digital mediums where stalking happens but the common Stalking grounds are social media platforms (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and others). One way to spot a stalker is from comments, likes, tags, and other means of interaction online. They leave unnecessary comments on the posts of their targets, like all their pictures, and send them inappropriate messages. These kinds of interactions are always inappropriate, derogatory, violent, and leave the target extremely uncomfortable.
2. Hacking
While hacking is almost always used for internet fraud and identity theft, some stalkers use repeated hacking as a means of torture to their intended victims. They get into their accounts, allow them to recover the accounts, and hack them again, getting off on the distress they are causing. If your social media accounts are getting hacked way too often, you are most likely being stalked.
3. Threats/Blackmail
Stalkers also use threats to scare their targets into submission. They send messages, emails, or DMs to the target pretending to have personal information and use the target’s fear of being exposed to extort money and make all kinds of lewd requests.
4. Excessive tagging
Tagging their targets in posts that they have nothing to do with or have no interest in is another tactic used by cyber stalkers. This is an attempt to draw their attention and force an interaction to open room for more harassment. Sometimes, the posts they get tagged in are offensive, embarrassing, violent, and inappropriate.
5. Fake followership
Another common technique cyber stalkers use is creating multiple fake social media accounts to follow their target and keep tabs on them. These accounts are usually dormant with no posts, no followership, and they could have a picture or two.
How do you tackle Cyber Stalkers?
1. Be bold.
Their first assignment is to take you back into a corner and shake in fear so that you are more susceptible to their demands. Do the exact opposite and stand up for yourself.
2. Ignore
In a situation where it is obvious you are being goaded into opening a conversation, don’t. Block whoever keeps tagging you, texting you, or leaving comments on your social media pages. It doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t stand up for yourself but know when to fight back and when to ignore.
3. Strengthen your security.
Thank God for two-factor authentication and other extra security measures that were put in place to help reduce the rate of identity theft and hacking. Never ignore suggestions to increase security on your social media and other digital modes of interaction. Avoid making use of weak and predictable passwords, remember to log out of your accounts if you logged in on a device that isn’t yours, be careful of how excited you get over using public open WiFi, and try not to use your full name as your user ID on public platforms, etc. Take cyber security seriously as cyber stalkers tend to go after people who are easy to penetrate. Set up wall after wall till all your digital profiles are secure.
4. Get ahead of them
In a situation where you are being threatened or blackmailed and you are a hundred percent certain that it is based on false stories, call their bluff and expose them. Take screenshots of every conversation, save recordings of every voice note and make sure you have evidence of everything. You render them powerless when you speak up. If you’re being stalked, say something.
5. Be careful
Watch what you release online and who you release it to. The internet is not a safe place to share just anything, especially intimate or personal information. Whatever you post is permanently open to millions of people that you’ve never met before. Not everything is meant to go online, not just for safety purposes but for integrity’s sake. Keep your information to yourself. Be careful who you allow access to your devices because chances are that a cyber stalker might be someone who knows you.
6. Don’t leave your devices open.
Keep them with you at all times, especially when you’re in a place filled with people, whether at home or work. Never leave your phone unlocked or your laptop open as it only takes a few seconds for someone to plant something in your device and have you in the palm of his/her hands.
We live in a heavy technological era and it is important to note that you can’t afford to be careless with your information. Cyberstalking and its after-effects ruin lives and plunge people into anxiety. Being stalked is not a nice thing to go through. Be digitally vigilant.
