Growing dependence on ICT fuels problem
16 November 2009 (The Star)

CYBERSTALKING is a new form of deviant behaviour that uses technology to harass others in various ways.
It mainly involves the use of the Internet or other electronic channels to stalk someone with malicious intent, according to CyberSecurity Malaysia.

In less than a decade, reliance on the Internet, email, instant messaging, chatrooms, and other communications technologies has made cyberstalking a growing social ill that can affect computer users anywhere in the world.

Cyberstalking includes false accusations, slander, sexual exploitation and abuse of victims' email accounts.

In most cases, the cyberstalkers are people known to the victims, such as ex-boyfriends, ex-spouses, colleagues, friends and competitors. But there have also been cases where a group of stalkers band together for the purpose of identity theft.

Although cyberstalking usually involves one person pursuing another, this is not always the case.

It has evolved to include such acts as stock market fraud, identity theft, sexual harassment, data theft, impersonation and consumer fraud.