Know Your Rights! Cyberstalking - NYC Anti-Violence Project

Tracking someone’s whereabouts via social media, electronics, and other technology.
Creating fake accounts to follow someone on social media.
Installing apps or hacking into devices to track someone’s online movements.
Hacking into someone’s smartphone or laptop camera to secretly record them.

Social media websites that ask you to “check-in” (e.g., Facebook).
Spyware that might be installed on your devices (especially if you share your passwords).
E-mails containing suspicious attachments or links that could install software on your devices.
GPS on your cell phones or devices that shows your location.

Trust yourself. If a person knows too much about where you are and where you’re going, they may be using technology to track you.
Keep your passwords to yourself and change them regularly.
Check your privacy settings on social media to make sure you’re not sharing your location.
Cover your internet tracks: erase cookies, internet history files and your cache.
Protect and limit your social media account:
Make your accounts private
Remove followers you don’t know or who have a relationship with the stalker
Change your handle or name
Use a photo that cannot be identified as you
Don’t open email attachments from sources you don’t trust.
Don’t accept social media friend requests from people you don’t know or trust.
For iPhone users: use the Safety Check feature in your Settings to review and reset all access that anybody might have to your messages, app access, location tracking and other crucial info.
Review the Clinic to End Tech Abuse’s Safety Checklist for technology violence.
Consider reporting the cyberstalking—see reporting section below

You can report cyberstalking to AVP and/or to the police. If you feel comfortable, contact AVP’s 24/7 hotline at 212-714-1141 or online at avp.org/get-help, as AVP tracks and reports on all forms of violence through our hotline and online reporting form. Additionally, or separately, you can file a police report. Having an official complaint on file will help if the behavior persists or escalates.
If you make a report, get the assigned number of the Police Incident Report and ask for follow up steps
Save evidence of stalking (screenshot texts, save voicemails) in case you seek legal protection.
Report the cyberstalker to the social media / websites they have used.

Connect with an AVP Advocate by calling or texting the AVP Hotline: 212-714-1141
If you share a cell phone plan with an abusive partner, talk to an Advocate about options for getting off the plan safely, as phone companies have different options to explore.
An advocate can support clients in connecting with their local precinct’s Crime Victim Advocate to explore their options around filing police reports or seeking an Order of Protection.

What is ‘cyberstalking’?