cyberstalking
Online predatory surveillance
Cyberstalking is the use of digital technology to harass, monitor, or threaten someone—typically through repeated unwanted contact, tracking online activity, or sending threatening messages.
Unlike casual online annoyance, cyberstalking implies a pattern of behavior that makes the target fear for their safety: She filed a police report about the cyberstalking after he created fake accounts to follow her everywhere online.
Publishing personal information maliciously
- catfishingDeceiving via false identity
- trollingProvoking reactions online
- impersonationPretending to be another
- defamationFalse statements harming reputation
Emotional response to threat
- intimidationDeliberate fear-inducing pressure
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
- paranoiaIrrational persecution fears
- traumaLasting psychological wound
helplessness · isolation · hypervigilance · PTSD · powerlessness · depression · gaslighting · terror
Persistent, intrusive preoccupation
- fixationPersistent mental attachment
- monitoringOngoing observation of something
- surveillanceSystematic observation of subjects
- trackingMonitoring location over time
watching · following · researching · profiling · escalation
Hidden surveillance program
Illegal digital conduct
- felonySerious criminal offense
- misdemeanorLesser criminal charge
- prosecutionPursuing legal charges
- injunctionCourt-ordered behavioral requirement
defendant · conviction · charges · arrest · sentencing · reporting
doxxing
Publishing personal information maliciously
- catfishingDeceiving via false identity
- trollingProvoking reactions online
- impersonationPretending to be another
fear
Emotional response to threat
- intimidationDeliberate fear-inducing pressure
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
- paranoiaIrrational persecution fears
trauma · helplessness · isolation · hypervigilance · PTSD · powerlessness · depression · gaslighting · terror
obsession
Persistent, intrusive preoccupation
- fixationPersistent mental attachment
- monitoringOngoing observation of something
- surveillanceSystematic observation of subjects
tracking · watching · following · researching · profiling · escalation
spyware
Hidden surveillance program
- keyloggerSoftware recording typed input
- malwareHarmful computer programs
- phishingFraudulent credential harvesting
hacking · cookies · metadata · geolocation
cybercrime
Illegal digital conduct
- felonySerious criminal offense
- misdemeanorLesser criminal charge
- prosecutionPursuing legal charges
injunction · defendant · conviction · charges · arrest · sentencing · reporting
Digital written communication
- intimidationthreats, threatening, menacing, intimidate, bullying
- cyber threatsmalware, phishing, hacking, virus, ransomware
- cybercrimeshacking, phishing, malware, ransomware, data breach
- privacy violationsinvasion of privacy, data breach, privacy invasion, privacy breach, eavesdropping
- harassmentgroping, catcalling, verbal abuse, threats, workplace bullying
- stalkingfollowing, obsession, restraining order, restraining orders, protective order
stalk, cyber, stalks, stalker, stalking, stalked, cyberstalker, cyberstalkers, cyberstalk