How to Avoid & Deal with Cyberstalking

Cyberstalking is when someone uses the Internet or other electronic means to harass a person. With the prevalence of social media like Facebook and modern cell phone technology, cyberstalking has become more and more common in recent years.
Some examples of cyberstalking include:
  • Sending a constant stream of email or instant messages to you, your friends or your family members.
  • Posting inappropriate comments or making false accusations on your social media sites.
  • Attempting to gather your personal info like your phone number, address, school that can develop into offline stalking behaviours.

Cyberstalking Prevention Tips

  • Don’t use your real name or a commonly known nickname. Choose a genderless screen name for social websites where your name will be publicly visible.
  • Use a separate email account through a free service not tied to your main personal account that you use for online activity.
  • Choose a complicated password using letters and numbers that has no significance.
  • Don’t share your password… ever.
  • Don’t publish your real name, personal or contact info.
  • Set your privacy options as high as possible.
  • Don’t have personal conversations in publicly viewable forums.
  • Refrain from publicizing your personal plans.

How to Handle Cyberstalking Behaviours

  • Ignore unknown communications or friend requests sent to you.
  • If threat level is low, send a clear message that their communication is unwanted (acts as a benchmark in case of police investigations or legal proceedings). After that, don’t send any other communications.
  • Do not delete original messages (soft and hard copies).
  • Take screen shots (Snipping Tool in Windows 7) of harassing behaviours.
  • Stop using site or service (if possible).
For more info on cyberstalking, please visit Canadian Clearinghouse on Cyberstalking.