One online stalking story I heard was about a girl who constantly received unwanted messages on social media from a stranger. The stranger had found her profile and started commenting on her every post, sending private messages asking personal questions. It made her feel very uncomfortable and scared. She had to block the person multiple times as they kept creating new accounts to continue stalking her.
There was a case where a man was being stalked online. The stalker created multiple fake accounts to follow his every move on different platforms. They would comment on his posts with really disturbing messages. This made the man extremely paranoid and he had to limit his online presence and even change his job as the stalker seemed to know his workplace details too. It was a nightmare for him.
One common type is social media stalking. People might follow every post, like, and comment on a victim's account in an obsessive way. Another is email stalking, where unwanted and often threatening emails are sent repeatedly. Also, there's location - based stalking through apps that might accidentally expose someone's whereabouts, and the stalker uses that information to track their movements.
The most common type is probably the cyber - harassment in which the stalker targets the victim's social media accounts. They might post mean comments, spread false information, or try to isolate the victim from their friends online. For example, I know someone whose pictures were stolen by a stalker and then used in a really inappropriate and defaming way on various websites. It was a horrible situation for her. Also, stalking for financial gain is not uncommon. The stalker may try to access the victim's bank details or trick them into giving away money through phishing scams.
One scary stalking story is about a girl who noticed the same man everywhere she went. He was at the coffee shop she frequented, outside her workplace, and even on her jogging path. Every time she saw him, he would just stare at her. It made her extremely paranoid and scared to leave her house.
They should also be careful about what they share online. Avoid posting details like your exact location, daily schedule, or personal contact information. Another important step is to keep their devices and software updated to prevent hackers from easily accessing their data. If they suspect they are being stalked, they should report it to the relevant authorities, like the local police or the platform where the stalking is taking place.
To protect from stalking as shown in those scary true stories, it's crucial to trust your instincts. If something feels off, it probably is. In some of the stories, the victims had a gut feeling but ignored it at first. Next, use technology to your advantage. There are apps that can help you keep track of who is around you or who has accessed your information. Also, if you suspect stalking, document everything. Keep a record of any strange encounters, messages, or sightings. This can be very helpful if the situation escalates and you need to involve the police, just like in some of those real - life stalking horror stories.
There was a case where a defective motherboard in a company's server seemed to be sending out random data packets. It turned out that there was a malicious chip on the motherboard that was installed during the manufacturing process in a foreign factory. This chip was stalking the company's network traffic and sending it to an unknown third - party. It cost the company a great deal of time and money to figure out the source and replace all the affected motherboards.
One story could be a child being repeatedly sent unwanted messages by a stranger who had found their social media profile. The stranger would comment on the kid's every post, making the kid feel very uncomfortable and scared.