College Students and Cyberstalking: Signs and Prevention Tips

January 20, 2025 By Janne Smith No Comments 5 minutes

Cyberstalking is a growing issue, and college students are prime targets. Whether it’s an obsessive ex, a stranger from social media, or a hacker trying to steal personal data, online tracking is more common than most people realize. With so much of daily life happening online—class discussions, social media interactions, and even financial transactions—it’s easy for someone to monitor your activity without you noticing.

A Cyberstalking Prevention Guide for Students Banner

Cyberstalking is especially dangerous because it often goes unnoticed. Sometimes, it’s not a total stranger watching—you might unknowingly share details through social media, location-sharing apps, or weak security settings. Even everyday online activities, like searching for a trusted service to write my essay for me, can leave behind digital traces if you’re not careful.

The good news is that by recognizing the warning signs and adjusting your privacy settings, you can take control of your online security and keep your personal information safe.

Note: The Internet paves the way for global information access, but despite the allure, the lingering cyber threats await access to your data. Meaning, you’re never surfing the web alone–the black hats are always there. However, connecting to a trusted VPN, like FastestVPN, ensures digital anonymity from the prying eyes online, i.e., the cyberstalkers.

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Signs That Someone Is Watching You Online

Most cyberstalkers don’t make their presence obvious. Instead, they use small, calculated moves to track you without raising suspicion. Here are some red flags:

Unusual Login Activity: If you receive notifications about logins from unfamiliar devices or locations, someone may have gained access to your accounts.
Strange Social Media Interactions: A person consistently viewing your stories, liking old posts, or creating multiple fake accounts to follow you could be tracking your activity.
Emails or Messages with Odd Links: If you receive random emails or messages with links, even from people you know, they might be phishing attempts to install spyware on your device.
Changes in Your Online Accounts: Password resets, unfamiliar contacts in your friend list, or messages you didn’t send could indicate that someone has access to your accounts.
Personal Information Leaks: If a stranger or acquaintance brings up private details that you haven’t shared publicly, they might be tracking your online activity or accessing data without your consent.

How Cyberstalkers Gain Access to Your Information

Cyberstalkers use different methods to monitor and track their targets. Being aware of these strategies can keep you one step ahead of potential threats.

Social Media Stalking

Many students overshare online without realizing how much personal data they’re making public. Even if your profile is private, a cyberstalker can still collect information through tagged posts, public comments, or mutual connections.

Tracking Through Shared Apps

Apps that share location, such as Snapchat’s Snap Map or Find My Friends, can be misused. A stalker might use these features to monitor your real-time movements, especially if you’ve forgotten to disable location sharing.

Phishing and Malware

Clicking on a malicious link can install spyware that tracks your keystrokes, monitors your browsing habits, and even accesses private files. Cyberstalkers often disguise these links as job offers, scholarship opportunities, or social media contests.

Public Wi-Fi and Hacking

Using public Wi-Fi without a VPN makes you an easy target. Hackers can intercept data, steal passwords, and even access your personal accounts if you’re not using a secure connection.

How to Protect Yourself from Cyberstalking

Here are 4 cyberstalking prevention tips:

Strengthen Your Privacy Settings

Keep your social media profiles private and control who can view your posts, stories, and friend lists.
Disable location-sharing features unless absolutely necessary.
Regularly check and remove third-party apps that have access to your personal accounts.

Use Stronger Security Measures

Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on all important accounts, including social media, email, and banking.
Be careful with links—avoid clicking on anything suspicious, even if it seems to come from a trusted source.
Ensure using strong and unique passwords for your accounts and update them every 3 months.

Be Cautious on Public Wi-Fi

Stay away from logging into sensitive accounts when using public Wi-Fi.
Protect your internet connection with a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to protect your data.

Monitor Your Digital Footprint

Search your name online regularly to monitor what personal information is publicly available.
Check for data breaches using tools like Have I Been Pwned to see if your accounts have been compromised.
In case you suspect a cyberstalker, set up Google Alerts for your name to monitor any unusual mentions.

Final Thoughts

Cyberstalking is a real threat, and college students are often at higher risk. Whether it’s through social media, shared apps, or weak security practices, cyberstalkers find ways to monitor their targets without being detected. The good news? You have full control over your online privacy and security.

By spotting warning signs, adjusting your privacy settings, and being careful about your digital footprint, you can greatly reduce your risk. If you ever feel like someone is watching you online, trust your instincts—take action to protect yourself, and don’t hesitate to seek help.