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What to Do if You are Threatened in Cyberspace Cyberspace is fun for most people, but it can become scary when users are threatened, or receive a disturbing e-mail. Most users dont know what to do when someone in Cyberspace threatens them, but there are many things users can do to protect themselves against these threats. All users that are threatened in Cyberspace should take the necessary steps to report it. Users are most often threatened in places where people meet and chat with strangers, such as chat rooms and discussion groups. There are a variety of reasons why Internet users may begin to harass or stalk each other.
Online arguments escalate quickly, and may become vicious, which could lead to taunting on a daily basis and cyberstalking. There are also other instances where a
person falls in love with another, and becomes obsessive, sending them rampant e-mail messages, and becoming enraged when they dont receive a reply. Some users are also classified as bullies, and are prone to push other users around, and send them threatening messages. In some cases users also threaten death or bodily harm. Other forms of harassment also include receiving electronic viruses that cause problems on computers, and having defamatory things written about you on another users Web site or in a post made to a discussion group.
It may be advisable to ignore cyberstalkers, but there are certain things that should receive extra attention, and should be reported. When threatened, users should objectively examine their circumstances. If the threatening user sends an email that suggests that they know personal information, then it should be acted upon. If the user suggests that they have performed despicable acts on other persons, and plan to do the same to others, then it should be reported. For example, some users may receive emails that describe ways of molesting children, or may stumble upon Web sites that feature child pornography. In those extreme cases the harassment should be reported to the proper authorities.
Users should not hesitate to report activity that is illegal. The police have the ability to track the source of an email by using the header of the email. Headers contain specific information about where the email came from. Once a threatening email is received, it should not be deleted, because it can be used to provide vital information to the authorities. If an email contains child pornography, it should not be forwarded to any friends, because that user would be guilty of distributing child pornography. It is also possible to trace the source of the uploaded images to a Web site.
There are many online organizations that provide help to victims of Cyberstalking. These organizations can report threats to the local police department. The Guardian Angels have a program that allows users to report cyberstalking to their Cyber911 email address. The group has volunteers that work with the police, and are there to provide help to threatened users. SafetyEd is also an organization that advises users about all of the harassment levels.
Once this group receives a request for help, they will sen a questionnaire for user to fill out, which will assist them in their assessment. The service provides advice on how to identify stalkers, how to protect their privacy online, how to report abuse to ISPs, and legal information on harassment and stalking. If child pornography is involved, users may also contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The police department may also be contacted immediately after receiving threatening messages; there are many police officers that are trained in online investigations. It is also good to remain composed, and take the proper precautions to protect themselves and their families.
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