Last Updated on June 3, 2025

As technology plays a larger role in our everyday lives, the risk of becoming a victim of cyber harassment also grows. Every profile we create, post we share, and platform we use opens the door to malicious actors looking for new targets. So, what is cyber harassment and how do you protect yourself from it? The first step is understanding the many forms the crime can take and how it can manifest on the internet.

What is Cyber Harassment?

Harassment is legally defined as unwanted words or behavior that threatens, intimidates, or demeans someone else to cause emotional distress. Cyber harassment is defined in a similar way, except it is done through the use of electronic communication. Harassment can occur in many forms, whether it’s on the internet or in person.

Digital Harassment

• Cyberbullying: The use of electronic communications to humiliate, harass, or intimidate another person. Cyberbullying can range from general gossip to severe defamation.
• Doxxing: The act of publicly revealing someone else’s private information without their consent. The victim can often be identified through this information, which can put their online and real-world safety at risk.
• Threatening Messages: Verbal, electronic, or written communications that intend to intimidate, harm, coerce, or manipulate the recipient.
• Cyberstalking: The use of electronic communication to harass or threaten another person in a manner that causes the victim to fear for their safety or suffer distress.
• Trolling: Inflammatory, disruptive, or provocative internet behavior with the intent to upset or anger others.
• Revenge Porn: The non-consensual distribution of intimate images or videos of someone else, causing emotional distress. In many local jurisdictions, there is a requirement of an intent to cause harm for it to be illegal. The term “revenge porn” is commonly used to refer to someone distributing their former partner’s nudes without consent.

In-Person Harassment

• Unwanted Physical Contact: Any physical interaction that occurs between two or more people without consent, causing discomfort or distress.
• Verbal Harassment: Using words to offend, intimidate, or harm another person, causing someone to feel unsafe, uncomfortable, or humiliated.
• Intimidating Acts: Behavior that instills fear in another person with or without intent.
• Displays of Offensive Objects: The act of sharing, showing, or placing items in a way that can emotionally harm others. This may include racist symbols, violent imagery, or discriminatory slogans.

Cyber Harassment vs Cyberbullying

Cyber harassment and cyberbullying are often used interchangeably. They share many similarities in legal and everyday contexts. However, cyberbullying is commonly used in youth-related environments and to refer to minors. On the other hand, cyber harassment typically refers to people of all ages and is more commonly used in a criminal context.

What Cyber Harassment Can Look Like: Real-World Cases

There are many real-world stories of people fighting back against cyber harassment in its many forms. For some, hearing directly from those who have faced and stood up to cyber harassment can be a powerful way to learn how to respond and protect themselves in a similar situation.

Jackson Cosko: The Senate Doxxing

In 2018, Jackson Cosko, a staff member of a U.S. senator, was terminated from his position. Months after, he broke into his workplace and stole information. In October of that year, Cosko published this private, personal information on Wikipedia and Twitter, including home addresses and phone numbers of 5 senators. In 2019, Cosko was sentenced to four years in prison for illegally accessing information and doxxing.

Robert Frese: Trolling Gone Wrong

Robert Frese has been arrested and charged for internet trolling more than once. In 2012, Frese made a comment on Craigslist accusing a life coach of being a scammer and drug dealer. He was charged with criminal defamation and harassment and received a fine of almost $1,500.

In 2018, Frese posted a Facebook comment accusing a local police chief of being corrupt. The police chief denied the allegations and filed a criminal complaint about the criminal defamation, leading to a warrant for Frese’s arrest.

Noe Iniguez: First Californian Prosecuted Under “Revenge Porn” Law

In 2014, Noe Iniguez was the first person in the state to be convicted under California’s “revenge porn” law. He posted an explicit image of his former girlfriend on her employer’s Facebook page with comments claiming she should be fired. Iniguez was sentenced to one year in jail and three years of probation.

Protecting Yourself from Cyber Harassment

Whether it’s a former acquaintance or an absolute stranger, cyber harassment can stem from a variety of experiences. Harassers are motivated by a range of incentives such as power, revenge, or prejudice. They can target someone obsessively based on the briefest of moments. While there are no methods that can guarantee safety from a harasser, you can minimize the risk of becoming a victim.

Change privacy settings

The first step to protecting yourself digitally is to limit your exposure to cybercriminals. You can do this by making your social media accounts private, allowing only your followers or friends to see your posts. Make sure to audit the list of people who follow you and remove anyone you don’t know well.

Avoid engaging with strangers

Bad actors may send an unsolicited message to you under a fake profile, luring you into their web. Any engagement with these profiles only encourages the perpetrator to continue their behavior. Making it more difficult for the harasser to get in touch with you can lead to disinterest, prompting them to move onto other targets.

Keep personal details private

Harassers and cyberstalkers will use any information about you to target you. Names, locations, email addresses, and phone numbers can all perpetuate cyber harassment. Consequently, it’s best to stay cautious when making posts and drafting your profile bios. On dating platforms, keep your profile separate from your social media accounts to keep your personal information out of the wrong hands.

Improve your security

The anonymity of cyber harassment introduces a lot of uncertainty. The perpetrator can be someone you know or a dangerous cybercriminal. Strengthening the security on your accounts and devices protects your information from the perpetrator. Make sure your passwords are complex and unique to each of your accounts. You can also check to see if your password has been exposed in a corporate data breach on sites like Have I Been Pwned.

Two-factor authentication (2FA) is another tool users can employ to secure their accounts even in the case of an exposed password. You can enable the setting on most social media networks and dating platforms. In an ever-evolving digital era, you need to stay up to date on the latest internet safety best practices to keep your personal information secure.

Work with Experts to End Your Cyber Harassment

Cyber Investigation has a team of engineers and analysts that can use their expertise to end anonymous digital harassment. Using the latest technology, we can trace the digital trail of harassment back to the original source, identifying the perpetrator’s geolocation and identity. We then use this newfound information as leverage to pressure the bad actor into ending the harmful conduct. Without anonymity, you can look into taking legal action against the culprit and using our investigation as evidence to support your case.

At Cyber Investigation, protecting victims of cybercrime is our top priority. Call us today to enlist experienced cybercrime experts to work alongside you.

Last Updated on May 29, 2025

In 2021, Pew Research Center found that 4 in 10 American adults have experienced online harassment. The severity of the harassment ranged from physical threats to name-calling. In any case, the prevalence of online harassment has continued to grow over the years. Now, internet users need to be aware of the risks and how to stop online harassment if they are ever targeted. 

What is Considered Harassment? 

Cyber harassment is defined as the use of electronic communication with the intent to harass or intimidate another person, causing emotional harm or distress. There are multiple means of communication through which cyber harassment can occur, such as email, social media, dating sites, and other platforms. 

Tactics of a Criminal: Strategies and Behaviors of Online Harassment 

Online harassers are not all the same, but they use similar tactics to target victims and for similar reasons. There is a mix of social dynamics and psychological motivations that can contribute to the behavior of these criminals. The digital era has only increased the number of online harassers and amplified their reach. Below are some of the common motivations and patterns that have been observed in online harassers. 

• Using anonymity. The internet allows bad actors to operate anonymously from all around the world. Their anonymity not only protects criminals from being held accountable for their actions, but it also encourages them to do and say things they wouldn’t in-person. 

• Wanting power or control. Perpetrators typically desire power or control over others. They use cyber harassment to intimidate specific targets. 

• Feeling insecurity. Feeling threatened by the positive attributes of others, they can operate from a place of insecurity and may target individuals to tear others down.  

• Lacking empathy. Perpetrators often harass victims online without considering the real-world implications of their actions. By focusing on the digital interactions, they dehumanize their targets and see them only as usernames. 

• Craving attention. Cyber harassment typically stems from something missing in the culprit’s personal life. Harassers may want attention or a sense of power and gain that comes from targeting someone online. 

• Seeking revenge. Some cyber harassers know their targets in real life. It may be a former partner, friend, or acquaintance that has a vendetta against the victim. 

How to Respond to Online Harassment 

Stopping online harassment can be difficult. The perpetrator hides behind anonymity to operate without accountability and can make multiple profiles to continue the abuse even after their profile gets blocked or removed. The barrage of harassment can make victims feel helpless, but you can take control of the situation — even in the face of an anonymous culprit. 

Assess the threat 

The first step in responding to online harassment is to assess the severity of the threat. There are many forms of cyber harassment, ranging from mild to extremely severe. Low-level harassment, like comments or one-time messages, is common on social media platforms. Long-term and repeated behavior or threats can be a sign of real-world danger and should be taken seriously. 

Stop interacting with the criminal 

Engaging with the perpetrator only encourages them to continue their online harassment. Instead, immediately cease all communications with your harasser. If the harasser can’t easily get in touch with you, they are more likely to become disinterested. 

Preserve everything 

If you want to take legal action against your offender, you need evidence of the online harassment to use in court. Be sure to document all messages, suspicious profiles, images, and anything else that’s relevant to present to law enforcement or legal professionals. 

Notify online platforms and law enforcement 

When it comes to more severe online harassment like image-based abuse or threats, notifying law enforcement is vital. They can help you file an official case, legally recording the incident. This ensures that your evidence can be used in court or in a law enforcement investigation.  

Victims should also notify online platforms of cyber harassment. Many types of harassment violate the community standards of social media networks, and profiles engaging in such behavior will be removed from the platform. 

Change security settings 

With an anonymous perpetrator, it’s challenging to know their intentions or the danger they present. The only thing you can be sure of is that you are being targeted, so it’s best to secure your accounts and devices. Your passwords need to be strong enough to protect your information. Additionally, make sure two-factor authentication is enabled wherever it’s possible. 

Use support resources 

Online harassment has existed for decades. Over time, many non-profit organizations were created to combat cyber harassment and provide resources to victims.  

• Without My Consent. A non-profit with the mission to combat invasions of privacy and online harassment. The organization offers educational resources for victims on how to respond to harassment and image-based sexual abuse. 

• Crisis Text Line. Offers a free, confidential support line through text messages. Trained volunteers provide mental health support and crisis intervention 24/7(4). 

• Right To Be. This non-profit fights harassment in-person and online. The organization provides bystander intervention education and resources to help victims of online harassment. 

Work with legal professionals 

Unfortunately, attorneys can only pursue legal action against perpetrators who are identifiable. Cybercriminals hiding behind anonymity can often evade such legal action. However, if the harasser is identified and linked to evidence, attorneys can assist with filing lawsuits, restraining orders, and cease and desist letters. 

Ways To Prevent Yourself from Becoming a Target 

Anyone with an online presence can become a target for online harassment. The reason for this targeting can stem from something that occurred in real-life or over the internet. However, there are ways to make it more challenging for perpetrators to digitally harass you and minimize the risk of becoming a victim. 

Strengthen privacy settings 

Your online presence may attract online harassers or can get exploited by bad actors to contact you. But social media platforms offer privacy settings that can limit interactions with strangers on their sites and protect the posts or information you have on your profile. 

Be mindful of what you post online 

If your posts are not private, your information can be exposed to millions of users all over the world. Some of these users are bound to have malicious intentions. Making sure your profile and posts are private is one thing, but some harassers may already be your friends or followers. If this is the case, sharing your location, full name, or workplace can increase the risk of cyber harassment. 

Avoid trolls 

Trolls are everywhere on the internet. They are in forums, comment sections, direct messages, and more. Most of the time, trolls engage online with the intent to upset someone else. Responding to these trolls in any capacity can encourage further digital harassment and, possibly, obsessive targeting.  

Stop Online Harassment by Working with Cyber Investigation Inc. 

If you are facing an anonymous online harasser, Cyber Investigation Inc. has you covered. We specialize in removing the anonymity of cybercriminals, making it simpler for you to hold your offender accountable. Using digital forensics and investigative methods, we can trace the digital footprint of the perpetrator and pinpoint their geolocation. Then, our team of experts can uncover the culprit’s identity and leverage this information to stop cyber harassment in its tracks. Available 24/7, Cyber Investigation Inc. is always ready to fight against cybercriminals. All you have to do is give us a call. 

Last Updated on October 24, 2023

The rise of technology has brought with it some new forms of harassment in the form of electronic harassment.

This type of harassment is also known as cyberstalking or online harassment, and it involves the use of electronic means such as emails, texts, and social media to harass, intimidate, or threaten someone. If you are getting harassed online, it can be tough to know who to talk to and how to stop it. In this post, we’ll be discussing who you can report electronic harassment to and what you can do to protect yourself.

Continue reading Who Can I Report Electronic Harassment To?

Last Updated on July 7, 2023

The world of social media has given rise to a disturbing trend of online harassment. The existence of individuals who use the internet as a tool for bullying and harassing others is truly disheartening. It is a heartbreaking reality we must acknowledge and work to address. Whether a single incident or a persistent bullying campaign, online harassment can be incredibly stressful and traumatizing. If you find yourself in this situation, the good news is that there are steps you can take to protect yourself. Keep on reading to find out what to do if someone is harassing you online

Continue reading What to do if someone is harassing you online?

Last Updated on July 7, 2023

Cyber harassment is a form of online abuse that can be both threatening and intimidating and damage a person’s reputation. It is crucial to know how to report this type of harassment so that it can be dealt with accordingly and hopefully stopped. This blog post will explain how to report cyber harassment.

Continue reading How to report cyber harassment?

Last Updated on July 7, 2023

Online harassment is a prevalent problem on social media platforms such as Facebook, taking various forms. However, Facebook offers a reporting system to tackle such harmful behavior. If you’re a victim of harassment on Facebook, it’s crucial to understand how to report the offender and put an end to the situation. In this article, we will discuss how Facebook addresses harassment reports and whether it can help prevent online harassment. So, read on to learn how to report a cyber crime on Facebook.

Continue reading How to Report Someone on Facebook for Harassment?