Cyberstalking: A Intro

Courtesy of the FBI

Cyberstalking is defined as the use of electronic communications to harass and/ or frighten someone. Cyberstalking can take place on any social media platform (ie., Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Reddit, Tumblr) as well as email. To put it simply, cyberstalking is the same as stalking, but cyberstalking takes place on the internet.

Cyberstalking can be divided into three categories: catfishing, location check-ins and using geotags to track locations, hacking webcams.

Catfishing

Perhaps one of the most popular examples of catfishing comes from MTV’s reality show Catfish which investigates online dating. During each episode, a different “couple” is featured. The show normally starts with an email written from a man or woman who has been in a “relationship” with someone online but have never actually met the person. The hosts, Nev Schulman and Max Joseph, ask the person who came to them for help to share as much information as possible such as phone numbers, email addresses, job status, current city of residency, brothers/sisters names, as well as other known personal information.

Schulman and Joseph then conduct their own investigation to see if the other person has been talking to who they say they are. As the episode unfolds, most of the time, the catfish is not who they said they are. Most catfishes on the reality show are going through personal scenarios such as depression or body image issues.

While not all Catfish end with a lovey-dovey ending, other catfishers have been your typical creepy-stalker type.

Location Check-ins & Geotags

Most (I saw most, but I am sure all) social media platforms have a way to check in at a particular location or have the option to let users to tag their location. Facebook lets users check-in at restaurants, events, and other known locations. Instagram and Twitter use exact location names as well as letting users put a pinpoint on where they are in a specific city. Also, if you’re with friends, you may choose to tag them in the post as well.

Snapchat is a bit different in this respect. Since Snapchat is a photo and video platform only, users can choose to add geotags. Geotags are tags that assign a geographical location to a photo or video. In this case, it might be easier for cyberstalkers to pin an exact location.

Webcams

Webcams can be an easy target for cyberstalkers to hack. Stalkers can use spyware to access others’ webcams without the other person even knowing about it. Think about this for a minute. If you have a desktop with a video camera on it in your room, the cyberstalker can see you every moment you are in the camera’s frame. The most common use of webcam hacks is used for sexual harassment, but if your webcam is hacked, the cyberstalker can see when you are home and when you are not home. This can give the cyberstalker “advantages” to break in.

Where Can it Happen & Why?

Cyberstalking is most commonly used on cell phones, but can also occur on laptops, desktops and tablets. Common apps such as weather and GPS will commonly have a setting option to let the app track your location. If you do not let a weather or GPS app track you, it simply cannot work. The trick is to only allow the app(s) to track you while you have the app open. If you allow the app(s) to track you 24/7, this gives cyberstalkers an easier way to get to you.