What Group of People Is at Highest Risk from Cyberstalking

Key groups at risk of cyberstalking

Some groups of people face a higher risk of cyberstalking due to various factors. Those most vulnerable include women aged 18-29, public figures, domestic abuse survivors, LGBTQ+ individuals, minors, and journalists.

1. Women and young adults

Did you know that women are twice as likely to be stalked online compared to men? The risk is even higher for younger age groups.

A 2024 survey by Girlguiding found that over half of girls and young women aged 11 to 21 have experienced cyberstalking or received unwanted sexual images. Many face harassment via instant messaging and social media like TikTok, Snapchat, and WhatsApp. If you fall into this group, our guide on how to stop online stalking can help.

2. Public figures and influencers

People with an online presence—such as celebrities, influencers, and content creators—are easy targets for cyberstalking. Their visibility makes them more vulnerable to harassment, doxxing (exposing private information), and impersonation.

Some well-known cases include:

• Heather Lynn, a social media influencer, was cyberstalked and threatened by a man who later traveled to harm her. He was sentenced to five years in prison.
• In France, legal action was taken against X (formerly Twitter) after influencer Magali Berdah faced online harassment—this exposed weaknesses in the platform's regulations.
• A cyberstalker targeted former model Kirsten Dugdlaes, using her images to advertise explicit content and falsely accusing her friends. This was done with the intention of damaging her reputation.

3. Victims of domestic abuse

Domestic violence survivors often face cyberstalking from ex-partners who use spyware, GPS trackers, and fake social media profiles to watch, manipulate, and intimidate them. This keeps the abuse going even after the relationship ends. Many abusers also misuse shared accounts and device settings instead of relying on high-tech spyware to stay under the radar.

That's why an anti-spyware solution like Clario Anti Spy can be so useful. It finds and removes spyware from Android phones, detects hidden jailbreaks and device rooting, which could make iPhones and Android devices vulnerable to spyware. Its Anti-spy setup also helps secure everything from phone calls and browsing activity to social media accounts.

Here's how to run an Anti-spy setup with Clario Anti Spy:

1. Download Clario Anti Spy and subscribe to create an account.
2. Tap Setup under Anti-spy setup.
3. Tap on a category—e.g., Protect social media accounts—and work through the on-screen instructions to improve your privacy.

Clario Anti Spy also comes with various other features to keep you safe. For instance, it notifies if your emails and passwords are found in a data breach, secretly records anyone trying to unlock your phone without permission, and identifies malicious Android apps that could be spying on you.

4. LGBTQ+ individuals

LGBTQ+ individuals, especially those who aren't publicly out, are at a higher risk of cyberstalking, harassment, and doxxing. Online attackers may threaten to expose personal information, spread false rumors, or incite hate-fueled attacks, making an already difficult situation even worse.

This kind of harassment can seriously impact mental health and safety. In a 2020 survey by The Trevor Project, 52% of LGBTQ+ youth report bullying (online and offline), leading to depression and suicidal thoughts.

5. Children and teenagers

Minors are especially vulnerable to cyberstalking, cyberbullying, and online predators, as perpetrators take advantage of their lack of safety awareness online. Fake profiles, manipulation, and harassment are common tactics used to exploit children and teenagers. For instance, 51% of NYC K-12 students reported experiencing bullying in 2024, a 48% increase from the previous year.

6. Journalists and activists

Journalists and activists are often targeted by cyberstalkers due to their work exposing injustices or challenging powerful figures. They may face death threats, hacking attempts, and smear campaigns orchestrated to intimidate and silence them.

For instance, BBC's Marianna Spring received 11,700+ abusive messages in early 2023 for investigating conspiracy theories, while Hong Kong journalists and their families faced harassment in 2024 amid government crackdowns.

What to do if you are victim of cyberstalking

If you notice stalking signs online, taking action right away can help protect your safety and privacy. We have a full guide on how to prevent cyberstalking, but here's what you need to do in brief:

• Don't engage with the stalker. Ignoring them is key. Responding to messages, threats, or attempts at contact may encourage even more harassment.
• Document everything. Keep records of messages, emails, and incidents. Take screenshots and log dates, times, and descriptions of each event.
• Lock down your privacy settings. Adjust social media and account settings to limit profile visibility, disable location sharing, and be cautious with friend requests.
• Block and report the stalker. Use platform tools to block and report abusive users. Email providers, social media, and messaging apps offer features to restrict contact.
• Use security tools. Install anti-spyware and antivirus software to scan for malicious programs. You can also search manually while referring to our stalkerware apps list.
• Install software updates. Keep your software updated to patch out known security vulnerabilities.
• Reach out for support. Cyberstalking is stressful. Talk to trusted friends or family, seek counseling, or join support groups to connect with others who have faced similar experiences.
• Contact authorities. Stalking is illegal in most countries. If the situation worsens, report the incident to law enforcement.

Conclusion

Cyberstalking is a serious problem. If you or someone you know falls into a group of people who is at the highest risk from cyberstalking, it's important to protect your privacy, document any incidents, and reach out for support. Clario Anti Spy can also help by keeping your phone free of spyware.