Cyberstalking

From Saferpedia

Cyberstalking is the use of Internet or other electronic means to stalk or harass an individual, a group of individuals, or an organization. It may include false accusations, monitoring, making threats, identity theft, damage to data or equipment, the solicitation of minors for sex, or gathering information in order to harass. The definition of "harassment" must meet the criterion that a reasonable person, in possession of the same information, would regard it as sufficient to cause another reasonable person distress.
Source: Wikipedia

Definition

The harassment is a form of mental assault where the attacker penetrates repeatedly in victim's life. Separate intrusions don't have an effect over the victim, but put together they have an big impact.

How does a cyberstalker operates:

• False accusations. Many cyberstalkers try to deteriorate victims reputations and to turn other people against them. They publish false information about the victim on internet, like: news groups, chat rooms, blogs or personal pages.
• Trying to gather information about the victim. Cyberstalkers may approach friends of the victim, family members and co-workers in order to obtain personal information. They also may hire private eye investigators for that. Most of the times, attackers supervise victim's Internet activity by trying to get their IP address in the effort of collecting as many information as possible.
• Inciting other people to harass the victim. Cyberstalkers may say that the victim hurt him/her or their family in order to involve third parties in the harassment process, or they can publish victim's phone number and name.
• Posing as a victim. Attacker pretend the victim is in fact the attacker.
• Attack on data and equipments. Cyberstalkers can attack victim's computer by sending viruses.
• Ordering goods and services in the name of the victim.
• Scheduling dates. Victims that confront with a great risk are especially youngsters that agree to go on dates with cyberstalkers.

Cyberstalkers behavior

Cyberstalkers date their victims using search engines, online discussion forums, chat rooms and social networks like MySpace, Facebook, Bebo, Friendster, Inymedia and Hi5. Cyberstalkers engage in live harassment on chat or send unsolicited e-mails and viruses. There are cyberstalker which follow a victim just to satisfy their curiosities and obsessions. The attacks become dangerous when they are repeated for the same target.

Usually cyberstalkers publish defamatory declarations about their victims on the Internet in order to obtain a reaction from their part.

In some situations, cyberstalkers go to another level, using psycho - physical harassment like abusive phone calls, vandalism, threatening e-mails and physical assault.