How to Stop Cyberstalking

How can you stop cyberstalking?

Here are 13 ways you can stop cyberstalkers in their tracks:

• Don't engage with the stalker
• Block the stalker
• Tell your friends if you’re being stalked
• Remove personal information from the Internet
• Assess your online security
• Take care of your offline safety
• Don’t post information about your location
• Set up two-factor authentication
• Deactivate your accounts
• Tighten up your social privacy settings
• Find and remove spy apps
• Save evidence and notify the authorities
• Create a safety plan

Don't engage with the stalker

Out of fear, some people believe that talking to a stalker or doing what they say is the safest option – but that isn’t true. Preventing communication with a cyberstalker is essential as it ensures they can no longer harass or manipulate you. This is the first and most important step to stop a stalker in their tracks.

Here’s what to do:

• Don’t respond to messages, emails, or other forms of contact from the cyberstalker
• Save any threatening or harassing messages or emails as evidence
• Report any online content or threats created by the stalker to the proper authorities.

Block the stalker

Blocking a stalker is the most effective way to prevent them from messaging you. It also limits their access to your personal information and can act as a deterrent, preventing them from taking the stalking any further.

Here’s what to do:

• Block the cyberstalker’s email, instant messaging, and social media accounts
• Do not respond to any messages you receive from the stalker
• Avoid revealing personal information in places where the stalker might find them
• Block any fake accounts that you suspect were created by the cyberstalker.

Tell your friends if you’re being stalked

Being the victim of cyberstalking can feel intimidating and isolating. Telling your friends about your situation expands your support base and ensures that people you trust can look out for you. If your friends know that you’re being stalked, they can keep an eye out for suspicious activity online and act as witnesses if legal proceedings occur.

Here’s what to do:

• Make sure your friends know the details about the cyberstalker, such as their name, username, or picture if you have it
• Tell your friends to watch out for any suspicious activity from the cyberstalker such as threatening messages or emails
• Make sure your friends know that they can always come to you if they need help or support with the situation.

Remove personal information from the Internet

The more information about you that’s available on the internet, the easier it will be for your stalker to track your habits, location, and interests. By removing as much personal information from the internet as possible, you reduce the chances that they’ll be able to track you.

Here’s what to do:

• Remove any posts, photos, or videos that contain personal information such as your address, phone number, or other identifying information
• Regularly review the information about you that is available in search engine results
• Request that search engines remove personal information or outdated links from search results
• Contact webmasters or administrators directly if you find information that could be used to locate or identify you online.

Assess your online security

Assessing your online security can help prevent and combat cyberstalking by reducing your vulnerability to malicious threats and protecting your personal information.

Here’s what to do:

• Secure your accounts with strong and unique passwords
• Use two-factor authentication (2FA) wherever possible
• Frequently update your antivirus and malware protection
• Understand the signs of a phishing attack.

Take care of your offline safety

If someone is willing to stalk you online, there’s no reason they won’t try to stalk you offline as well. Taking care of your offline presence can help prevent and help against cyberstalking in several ways.

Here’s what to do:

• Choose your social circles carefully – be mindful of who you trust with personal information
• Always let family members or trusted friends know about your whereabouts if you plan to travel.

Don’t post information about your location

Posting information about your location can leave you vulnerable to cyberstalking. And unfortunately, it’s surprisingly easy for people to find your location from a single, seemingly innocent post.

Here’s what to do:

• Don’t post pictures or updates that tag your location, or publicly post your location
• Don’t post pictures that show your number plates, home address, or physical home
• Turn off publicly-shared GPS-tracking devices like Snap Maps.

Deactivate your accounts

If the stalking is becoming too much and it’s too hard to keep up with the fake accounts, your last resort is to deactivate your social accounts. This will completely prevent your cyberstalker from being able to contact or track you via social media. After a while, hopefully, they’ll give up, and you can reactivate your accounts once again.

Here’s what to do:

• Deactivate your main social media accounts. Here’s how to do so for Facebook and Instagram. For other accounts, you may have to delete them entirely.
• Look up how to deactivate any other accounts via their official websites.

Find and remove spy apps

There’s a chance that your cyberstalker has secretly installed malware or spy apps on your devices. This could have occurred if you pressed a link or installed software from a link they’d sent you, or if they ever had access to your devices (such as in the case of ex-partners).

Clario has created an AntiSpy tool that combines features that help people protect themselves from spying partners, ex-partners, friends, employers, etc. Clario AntiSpy will lead you through the process of safeguarding your device, show you how to scan your phone through your computer, analyze your phone for security updates, root-check your device, and protect you from ID theft.

Here’s what to do if you suspect your have spy apps installed on your devices:

1. Download and install Clario AntiSpy
2. Let Clario AntiSpy run a scan on your device
3. Follow the personalized instructions on what you need to do to eliminate the security vulnerabilities.

Save evidence and notify the authorities

If you receive harassing messages from a stalker, you should always save these as evidence in case the situation escalates any further. If it does, you’ll have proof that they were stalking and harassing you, and the authorities are more likely to do something about it.

Here’s what to do:

• Create a folder with all of the screenshots, messages, and emails that you’ve received from your cyberstalker
• Contact your local law enforcement agency and inform them of the situation. Hopefully, they will see the seriousness of the situation and help you take legal action against the cyberstalker.
• Submit a report to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.

Create a safety plan

Cyberstalking can escalate into physical stalking, harassment, and even violence. It’s important to create a safety plan for what you’ll do to stay safe if this happens. This plan will outline how you’ll cut off contact even further, find a safe place, and avoid the stalker while you resolve the situation.

Here’s what to do:

• Choose a few trusted people to know about your safety plan. Keep them updated as things change
• Create a list of if/then scenarios and be ready to take action if the cyberstalker changes their behavior suddenly
• Pick a few emergency contacts from your family, close friends, and the local authorities that you can reach out to in an emergency.

How to report cyberstalking?

Cyberstalking is illegal and carries serious penalties in most countries. If someone is stalking you on the internet, you should contact your local law enforcement as quickly as possible. They will give you advice and try to deter the stalker from harassing you any further.

You can either call your local police office by their non-emergency line or go there in person. When you report the stalker, try to provide as much evidence as possible, including any screenshots, messages, calls, and voicemails that display the stalker’s activities against you.

This is why it’s vital to record everything from the earliest moment, so you can build a strong case against your stalker.

You can also report stalkers on social media to have their accounts removed. Here’s how to do so for Facebook and Instagram.

Resources to help defend against cyberstalking

There are many free online resources, non-profits, and government agencies that help you protect yourself against cyberstalking. Taking preventative actions is often the best way to stay safe online, and learning how to protect yourself is the first step.

Here are some of the best resources to help you learn more:

• WomensLaw: Legal information for victims of abuse, online or in-person, regardless of gender.
• VictimConnect: A confidential helpline for victims of stalking to learn what they can do to protect themselves.
• Working to Halt Abuse Online (WHOA): An information hub for people to learn more about online abuse and how to prevent it.
• The Stalking Prevention, Awareness, and Resource Center: An educational website that features tips for addressing and protecting yourself from harassment and abuse.
• The Cyber Helpline: A free online self-help service and confidential helpline.

Conclusion

Cyberstalking isn’t just creepy, it’s also terrifying and dangerous. If you’re the victim of online stalking, you should report the crime to your local law enforcement. Then, you should immediately take the steps outlined above to prevent the stalker from contacting you or accessing your personal information.