Get Out of MySpace Get Out of MyFace: CyberStalking

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Get Out of MySpace Get Out of MyFace!
Cyber-Stalking

• UVM Officer Chris Hunter
• Henrietta Menzies, ResLife

Media Credit Jessie Velasquez
Download presentation_at_ http//www.uvm.edu/hmenzi
es/cyberstalking_wkshp.ppt
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What is Cyber-stalking?

• Threatening behavior or unwanted advances
  using the Internet and other forms of online and
  computer communications
• It takes many forms such as
• threatening or obscene e-mail
• spamming (in which a stalker sends a victim a
  multitude of junk e-mail)
• live chat harassment or flaming (online verbal
  abuse)
• leaving improper messages on message boards or in
  guest books
• sending electronic viruses
• sending unsolicited e-mail
• tracing another person's computer and Internet
  activity,
• and electronic identity theft

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How does it happen?

• Cyber-stalkers target their victims through chat
  rooms, blogs, message boards, discussion forums,
  and e-mail
• One Womans story I used to spend time in an
  online womens community. One woman became a
  little too dependent and attached herself to me a
  little more than was comfortable. She read every
  message board post I made, not just on that
  particular site, but all over the web. She
  followed me to every chatroom. She posted
  non-stop on my old "guestbook". She called me at
  home all of the time. She sent emails by the
  dozen, daily. Sent ecards. Sent gifts, flowers,
  began to "threaten" to come and visit me - and I
  do mean threaten. Because by that point, I was
  trying to pull away. She was making me nervous.
  I was never afraid she would show up at my door
  (I lived on a military base when it was the worst
  and it would have been tough for her to get
  through the gate). Now, sometimes I do worry - I
  don't have that gate to protect me any longer.
• Cyber-stalking can cross-over to physical
  stalking and in extreme cases be a prelude to
  more serious behavior, including physical
  violence.

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How easy is it to get my info?

• All you need is a cell phone , im screen name,
  email or IP-address ABIKA Pay to find info
  _at_http//www.abika.com/
• Lets take a look at MySpace Facebook and see
  what we find (volunteers?). www.Myspace.com
  www.Facebook.com

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How can I protect myself?

• Post only information that you are comfortable
  with others seeing and knowing about you.
  Many people can see your page, including your
  professors, the police, the College/ University
  you attend, or the job you might want to apply
  for in five years.

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Protecting myself online (cont)

• Make sure your screen name doesn't say too much
  about you. Don't use your name, your age, or your
  hometown. Even if you think your screen name
  makes you anonymous, it doesn't take a genius to
  combine clues to figure out who you are and where
  you can be found. Consider a gender neutral
  screen name/email account

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Protecting myself online (cont)

• Keep your information to yourself. Don't post
  your number, address, phone number, or bank and
  credit card account numbers  and don't post
  other people's information, either.
• Be cautious about posting self-identifying
  information that could be used to identify you or
  locate you offline. This could include the name
  of your college, sports team, clubs, and places
  in town/ on campus where you work or hang out.

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Protecting myself online (cont)

• Consider not posting your photo. It can be
  altered and broadcast in ways you may not be
  happy about. If you do post one, ask yourself
  whether it's one your mom would display in the
  living room. Or one you would post up in your own
  room.
• Or use a creative non-identifiable photo

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Creative Photos (non-identifiable)
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Protecting myself online (cont)

• Trust your gut if you have suspicions. If you
  feel threatened by someone or uncomfortable
  because of something online, tell someone
  (preferably a staff/professor/counselor/RA/RD/UVM
  police) you trust. See resources later in
  presentation and 1800-hotline number to call.

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HOW DID HARASSMENT BEGIN?
Includes Message boards, groups, usenet
Includes Auctions, personals, online dating,
virus, hacking, greeting cards, gaming, mailing
list, webcam, blogs, guestbook, spyware,
trojans, etc
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If you are a victim of Cyber-Stalking

• Hotline to call 1-800-FYI-CALL, 830 a.m. to
  830 p.m., Monday through Friday, Eastern
  Standard Time.
• Change your email account and passwords
• Tell the harasser/cyber-stalker in clear terms to
  stop contacting you.
• Save all communications you send/receive to/from
  the cyber stalker
• Avoid letting your internet browsers remember
  passwords and other personal information
• Contact online directory listings such as
  www.four11.com, www.switchboard.com, and
  www.whowhere.com to request removal from their
  directory.

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Online Resources

• Wired Safetyhttp//www.wiredsafety.org/internet1
  01/myspaceguide.html
• MySpace Safety tipshttp//www.myspace.com/Module
  s/Common/Pages/SafetyTips.aspx
• GetNetWisehttp//www.getnetwise.org
  http//privacy.getnetwise.org/
• National Center for Victims of Crime Stalking
  Resource Centerhttp//www.ncvc.org/src/
• Cyber Angels http//www.cyberangels.org/
  http//www.cyberangels.org/privacy.html
• Working with Social Networking Sites
  Tips!http//onguardonline.gov/socialnetworking_yo
  uth.html
• Cyber Tip Online http//www.cybertipline.com/
• Working to Halt Online Abuse http//www.haltabuse
  .org/

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Stalking

• (1) "Stalk" means to engage in a course of
  conduct which consists of following, lying in
  wait for, or harassing, and
• (A) serves no legitimate purpose and
• (B) would cause a reasonable person to fear for
  his or her physical safety or would cause a
  reasonable person substantial emotional distress.
• (2) "Course of conduct" means a pattern of
  conduct composed of two or more acts over a
  period of time, however short, evidencing a
  continuity of purpose. Constitutionally protected
  activity is not included within the meaning of
  "course of conduct."
• (3) "Following" means maintaining over a period
  of time a visual or physical proximity to another
  person in such manner as would cause a reasonable
  person to have a fear of unlawful sexual conduct,
  unlawful restraint, bodily injury, or death.
• (4) "Harassing" means actions directed at a
  specific person, or a member of the person's
  family, which would cause a reasonable person to
  fear unlawful sexual conduct, unlawful restraint,
  bodily
• The Vermont Statutes Online Title 13 Crimes
  and Criminal Procedure
• Chapter 19 BREACH OF THE PEACE DISTURBANCES.
  13 V.S.A. 1061. Definitions

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Aggravated Stalking

• (a) A person commits the crime of aggravated
  stalking if the person intentionally stalks
  another person, and
• (1) such conduct violates a court order that
  prohibits stalking and is in effect at the time
  of the offense or
• (2) has been previously convicted of stalking or
  aggravated stalking or
• (3) has been previously convicted of an offense
  an element of which involves an act of violence
  against the same person or
• (4) the person being stalked is under the age of
  16 years or
• (5) had a deadly weapon, as defined in section
  1021 of this title, in his or her possession
  while engaged in the act of stalking.
• (b) A person who commits the crime of aggravated
  stalking shall be imprisoned not more than five
  years or be fined not more than 25,000.00, or
  both.
• (c) Conduct constituting the offense of
  aggravated stalking shall be considered a violent
  act for the purposes of determining bail. (Added
  1993, No. 95, 1 amended 2005, No. 83, 5.)
• The Vermont Statutes Online Title 13 Crimes and
  Criminal Procedure
• Chapter 19 BREACH OF THE PEACE DISTURBANCES 13
  V.S.A. 1063. Aggravated stalking

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Breach of the Peace by Electronic Means

• (a) A person who, with intent to terrify,
  intimidate, threaten, harass or annoy, makes
  contact by means of a telephonic or other
  electronic communication with another and
• (i) makes any request, suggestion or proposal
  which is obscene, lewd, lascivious or indecent
• (ii) threatens to inflict injury or physical harm
  to the person or property of any person or
• (iii) disturbs, or attempts to disturb, by
  repeated anonymous telephone calls or other
  electronic communications, whether or not
  conversation ensues, the peace, quiet or right of
  privacy of any person at the place where the
  communication or communications are received
  shall be fined not more than 250.00 or be
  imprisoned not more than three months or both. If
  the defendant has previously been convicted of a
  violation of this section or of an offense under
  the laws of another state or of the United States
  which would have been an offense under this act
  if committed in this state, the defendant shall
  be fined not more than 500.00 or imprisoned for
  not more than six months, or both.
• The Vermont Statutes Online Title 13 Crimes and
  Criminal Procedure
• Chapter 19 BREACH OF THE PEACE DISTURBANCES 13
  V.S.A. 1027. Disturbing peace by use of
  telephone or other electronic communications

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Breach of the Peace by Electronic Means (Cont)

• (b) An intent to terrify, threaten, harass or
  annoy may be inferred by the trier of fact from
  the use of obscene, lewd, lascivious or indecent
  language or the making of a threat or statement
  or repeated anonymous telephone calls or other
  electronic communications as set forth in this
  section and any trial court may in its discretion
  include a statement to this effect in its jury
  charge.
• (c) An offense committed by use of a telephone or
  other electronic communication device as set
  forth in this section shall be considered to have
  been committed at either the place where the
  telephone call or calls originated or at the
  place where the communication or communications
  or calls were received. (Added 1967, No. 171,
  1 amended 1999, No. 124 (Adj. Sess.), 2.)
• The Vermont Statutes Online Title 13 Crimes and
  Criminal Procedure
• Chapter 19 BREACH OF THE PEACE DISTURBANCES 13
  V.S.A. 1027. Disturbing peace by use of
  telephone or other electronic communications

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ANY QUESTIONS?
Get Out of MySpace Get Out of MyFace!

• THANKS FOR ATTENDING OUR WORKSHOP ON
• CYBER-STALKING