Online abuse is more common than ever. Do this to stop cyberstalkers

Online harassment victimizes 40% of Americans. The number of Americans who say they’ve been victims of cyberbullying is frightening. According to the Pew Research Center, online abuse is only getting worse.

Cyberstalking can happen to anyone, and it can damage every aspect of your life, from friendships to your future career. You can encounter many different types of nastiness: harassment, name-calling, sexual harassment, and even death threats.

Just scroll down Twitter long enough and you’re sure to see people doxxing each other. Something as innocent as a disagreement over a movie, a plate of food or the color of a dress can lead to boiling tensions. When you’re interacting with strangers through a screen, it’s easy for dissent to snowball into character assassination and worse.

Anyone can become a victim of cyberstalking – not just celebrities

If you’re unfamiliar with the term, cyberstalking refers to intense online harassment that persists over a long period of time. It’s scary because anyone can attract a stalker’s attention. One Vox reporter says a man she rejected in college stalked her for 15 years.

At first, he insulted her in emails and private messages. The abuse escalated over time. Later, he slandered her in messages to her bosses and friends. Eventually, he even went to government agencies to sabotage her career. She wasn’t famous whatsoever — but a friend turned into a stalker dedicated to destroying her life.

This was more than just cyberbullying. It was full-blown cyberstalking, and it’s the perfect example of the way modern technology makes it easier than ever to abuse others from afar. If you haven’t encountered it yet, you should create a defense strategy ahead of time.

Don’t know how to start fighting online abuse? Try this

To fight back against cyberstalkers, listen to this free episode of Kim Komando Today. We caught up with a friend of the podcast, cybersecurity expert Ricoh Danielson. He graduated from fighting the Taliban online and on the ground to battling domestic digital threats like cyberstalkers.

You’ll get his expert opinion on the issue, as well as tips for protecting your digital world from people who want to tear you apart. Give it a listen for some essential cybersecurity strategies. It’s the best way to get creeps off your trail!

Pro trick to keep what you look at on social media private

How many times have you read a direct message and then completely forgot to reply? Then the next message you received was probably from the sender, saying they can see you read it, so why the silence? Tap or click here to see why thousands have signed a petition to stop Facebook’s Instagram for kids.

Continue reading

“Text pesting”: That’s the name for a disturbing type of harassment an estimated one-third of young women deal with regularly. Creeps use the contact info from a professional interaction, like an Instacart delivery or rideshare, to send unwanted sexual messages. Take Millie, who got, “I can’t wait to pick you up and see your beautiful face again, I long for you” from a driver.

A woman was being harassed and stalked. How we found the guy.

With today’s technology, it’s easier than ever before to stalk someone. Total strangers could sneak a tracking device into your bag when you’re not looking. Just like that, they know where you live.

You can use tools like GPS bug sweepers to pinpoint the exact location of hidden trackers. But sadly, there are a ton of other threats you need to watch out for. If you catch a stalker’s attention, they could track your every move without any expensive gadgets.

Continue reading

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

New rule lets debt collectors nag you through text, email and social media DMs

Annoying calls or messages from debt collectors may be a drag, but they’re still better than debtors’ prison. But now the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has made matters worse after finalizing a new rule that would allow debt collectors to contact people through text, email and social media. 

Continue reading

Simple way to protect your privacy on social media sites

Everyone’s talking about Nextdoor. It’s the social networking site that brings back good old-fashioned neighborhood chatter between your neighbors. Nextdoor is great in many ways, however, it has a few dark sides that you must know about if you’re concerned about your privacy.

Continue reading