Keeping Up With The Web

4. Discussion

How much can these pieces of advice help in case of cyber stalking?

• Use your primary e-mail account only for messages to and from people you know and trust.
• Get a free e-mail account from someplace like Hotmail, Gmail, and use that for all your other online activities.
• When you select an e-mail username or chat nickname, create something gender-neutral and like nothing you have elsewhere, or have had before. Try not to use your name.
• Don't fill out profiles for your e-mail account, chat rooms, IM (Instant Messaging), etc.
• Do set your options in chat or IM to block all users except for those on your buddy list.
• Do learn how to use filtering to keep unwanted e-mail messages from coming to your e-mailbox.
• If you are being harassed online, try not to fight back. This is what the harasser wants - a reaction from you. If you do and the harassment escalates, do the following:
• • Contact the harasser and politely ask them to leave you alone
  • Contact their ISP and forward the harassing messages
  • If the harassment escalates, contact your local police
  • If they can't help, try the State Police, and the Prosecutor
  • Contact a victims group