In the press and other media, there have been a growing number of articles and reports about bullying, stalking, and electronic harassment.
In our personal lives, incidents of stalking are known from stories our friends and family have, or a story that we can share personally.
With the growth of knowledge of how to use computers and electronic devices, especially the Internet, stalking and other cybercriminal events are becoming more prevalent and easier to execute.
Information on cyber stalking is growing on the Internet.
Most of the information is related to the character traits of stalkers, research around these personality types, and the history of this type of crime.
However, information on breaking privacy barriers and finding personal information in public places is easy to find as well.
The Internet has increased the ability for persons to befriend vulnerable, friendly, and lonely people, find their personal information from address and phone number to friends and purchasing patterns.
Cyber stalkers take the information they find and take steps towards making a relationship occur, and manipulate the victim.
Cyber stalkers are most commonly an ex-partner or friend that cannot accept that a relationship has changed or ended.
These persons cannot let go of the victim for many reasons.
Other common stalkers are the vengeful type.
They want to get even for something that may or may not have occurred.
The less common types of stalkers are those with mental illnesses and are delusional, sometimes to the extreme.
At Computer Forensics Associates, we often care for cases that are about stalking and bullying.
Through computer forensics, a stalker can be found and prosecuted.
Digital bread crumbs are left with every activity we do on a computer.
In the case of stalking, an unknown email address can be traced back to the originator through investigating file metadata, IP addresses, and interviews with the victim.
As well, stalkers sometimes will install software, especially key loggers, that will allow them to receive information on what the victim is doing and saying.
Tracing the activity of this software can pinpoint the stalker and authorities have solid evidence to follow up.
If you or someone you know is being stalked, talk to authorities, do not communicate with the stalker, and save any information that could lead to prosecuting the perpetrator.
When taking steps towards prosecuting a cyber stalker, you will want to consult an attorney and a computer forensics company.
Follow the advice of the attorney and the work of the computer forensics company will provide your attorney with the needed information to complete the case.