9 Ways to Protect Yourself from Cyberstalking
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No one should take cyberstalking lightly. If the idea of someone stalking you on the internet and collecting your personal information scares you then that is good! You have to be aware of cyberstalking and stay alert on the internet in order to avoid any mishap. Here are some ideas which can help you to protect yourself from a cyberstalker.
1. Stay vigilant offline
You have to be careful while using items like your cell phone, Blackberry or your land-line phone. All these things can easily be manipulated nowadays with the help of technology. So, be aware of the people visiting you. Make sure your home doesn’t have extra wires or wires that are no more functional. Make sure that no one is tapping your land-line number and install a Caller ID in it. Note the numbers that leave blank or missed calls on it, and call the police if someone rings you up and abuses you from any of these numbers.
2. Don’t reveal your home address
This is very important for all those women who are business owners or corporate professionals. Makes sure you never reveal your home address on any social networking or other website. If you must provide an address then use your work address.
3. Keep all your accounts password protected
Your cell phones, land-line, e-mail ids, banking cards and credit cards should be secured with passwords. Make sure all these things allow you to operate them only when the password is provided. Make sure you create a password that’s tough for people to guess. Change your passwords every year and make sure that only you know the answers to the secret questions of all these accounts. Choose secret answers that no one can guess. Don’t write these answers anywhere.
4. Do an internet research using your phone number, address and name
This will help you find out if someone has created a fake blog, account or web page about you on the internet. This will also help you find out if someone is misusing your name online. Make sure that there is nothing on the internet related to your personal information that you are unaware of.
5. Don’t provide any details to emails, telephone calls or texts asking for your basic information
You may receive telephone calls, emails or texts asking for your personal details or passwords of social networking and other accounts. Tech savvy stalkers can play the Caller ID spoof with you. This will make your Caller ID to flash your bank’s number when the stalker calls you. So, don’t provide your personal information to anyone who pretends like a bank, utility, or credit card representative. If you are suspicious, hand up and call the bank directly. This will help you make sure that you are not a target of a cyberstalker.
