27 July 2009
Cyberstalking is a fairly new term now commonly used to refer to the online version of stalking someone.

Cyberstalking is a fairly new term now commonly used to refer to the online version of stalking someone. It is an undesirable product brought about by the effectiveness of the Web into connecting people online. It is a particularly serious subject that still requires careful study and may pose a challenge to law enforcement authorities in terms of prevention and prosecution.

Various Definitions

Being a new problem that is steadily increasing online, cyberstalking still lacks a proper definition accepted by many. For the meantime, there are several definitions that may apply to the subject. Generally, cyberstalking may refer to actions made by an individual or group of individuals to harass another individual by means of the Internet
as well as other electronic communication devices. The actions usually involve harassment and threatening behavior that are acted upon one individual on a repeated basis via the Internet or through mobile phones and other similar devices.

Key Factors

Experts and authorities on cyberstalking have identified what actions and behavior may be considered as such. One of the typical actions made by cyberstalkers is aimed at damaging the victim's reputation by hurling false information and accusations and putting them on websites and blogs. False allegations meant to damage the reputation of the victim may also be posted on chat rooms, online communities and social networks so that it spreads faster.

Other typical actions that may be considered as cyberstalking includes attempts to gather further information concerning the victim which may include monitoring the victim's online activities and tracing his or her IP address. Cyberstalkers may also go to the point of encouraging other people to further harass the victim.

Serious cyberstalking may also include direct attacks on a victim's computer and other equipment repeatedly such as sending malicious programs and viruses that can damage them. Cyberstalking may also lead to blackmail in which victims may be made to do certain things contrary to their own choosing. Some cyberstalkers may do considerable damage enough to convince victims to do meet ups to further cause more serious harassments. Common targets for cyberstalking are the various social networking sites existing today which have become a common meeting place for many people online