Before beginning this article, I must ensure that victim blaming is not the goal here. If you have a stalker, harasser, etc. that is NOT your fault! Also- some individuals do anything and everything they can to protect themselves online, and they STILL deal with cyberstalkers, and malicious actors online. This guide is just to assist for those who have an online presence, who want to take steps to protect themselves for if they may have a potential stalker.
Ensuring online safety in the presence of a potential stalker involves strategic management of your digital presence. Here we discuss some quick best-practices to hinder a potential stalker seeking too much information about you online.
Here are some key precautions:
Avoid Real-Time Sharing: Refrain from posting real-time updates or stories that reveal your immediate location. Delay sharing experiences until after you've left the place.
ex: If you travel out of state, save those vacation photos for when you are back home! If you post while you are away, and post exactly where you are each time, if someone is in that area (or not in that area) they can try to locate you.
Limit Live Streaming: If live streaming, ensure no personal information or recognizable landmarks are visible, which could disclose your location. The most safe option is to not live stream. When you live stream you could potentially give a stalker or malicious actor personal and real time information.
Post Location Tags Wisely: Wait to tag locations in images or videos until after you have departed from the location to prevent real-time tracking.
Make sure that you do not even use many or any location tags when you are near your home, or somewhere you stay often such as a workplace.
Be Mindful About Personal Details: Exercise caution when posting content related to where you live, work, or study. Avoid showcasing anything that might indirectly reveal personal details, such as school or workplace logos.
Personally, followers of mine did not even know I was in law school until I graduated. I did not want potential malicious actors guessing which school I went to at the time.
Social Engineering Awareness: Be aware of how shared content can be utilized for social engineering. Personal details can be pieced together to discover more about you or to locate you. Gaining additional information about you will allow a hacker or malicious individual to guess security questions, passwords, and gain access to bank accounts.
Incorporating these practices can significantly enhance your online privacy and security, making it more challenging for a stalker to gather information about you.