CYBER SAFE WOMEN

CYBER CRIMINALS, TRAFFICKERS AND OTHER PREDATORS

ARE INCREASINGLY USING TECHNOLOGY

TO IDENTIFY, PRE-ASSESS AND VICTIMIZE

.... AND THEY OFTEN RELY ON

WHAT YOU MAY NOT KNOW YET OR WANT TO SEE

If you are a woman with children, and you are being stalked,
remain aware that you may not be the primary or only target of a sexual predator or trafficker. 

What you learn may help to save your life or that of a loved one.

Community members who are not involved in the IT Security or Cyber Security Industry have often not had an opportunity to learn that there is technology readily accessible for  purchase or through underground sharing online that helps cyber criminals and predators remotely download malware and spyware into women and children’s home, work and school computers. 

This form of malware is often undetected by common commercial anti-virus software as criminal groups strategically select malware and spyware programs which have been tested against common commercial anti-virus software to ensure they remain undetected.

Just as the annual flu vaccines must be updated for new, advanced and emerging strains of viruses, so must anti-virus software. 

Yet it is critical to realize that just as the annual flu vaccine cannot protect an individual  against each new, emerging strain of flu in the world, neither can the finest or most reputable anti-virus software.   It is simply a  reality that accompanies the rapid rate of advancement in technology and malware engineering.

With increasing frequency, spyware is being used by cyber-criminals/predators to remotely access women and childrens’ computer webcams. 

By deeply embedding malware and spyware into a computer’s operating system,  predators can identify, pre-assess, video tape,  audio record and monitor “potential victims” without the woman or child being aware they are being stalked and filmed in their own home.

Often with every key stroke on the computer being logged with keystroke loggers.  Every correspondence….every detail of the woman or child’s life. 

NBC’s Today Show featured a critical news segment focusing on how predators are using technology to pre-assess and monitor children and female victims.  

The NBC’s Today Show clip is eye opening and sheds light on how predators are using malware (malicious software) to gain complete access and control of women and children's computers to stalk them, video tape them through the webcams in their computer and evaluate them as potential opportunities or  prey ….without the women or children even being aware.    

This is a form of cybercrime and "hacking" used by growing circles of predators.

Criminals and Predators are increasingly using technology to identify, pre-assess and victimize; and they are relying on everything community members don’t know
or want to see.   

Link to Today Show segment:   

http://www.today.com/news/webcam-hackers-can-spy-you-secret-1C8095607

If you are a woman with children, and you are being stalked,
remain aware that you may not be the primary or only target of a sexual predator or trafficker.

Archived Media Reference  

Stickley. J. (2013). Jim Stickley demonstrates how criminals can access your webcam. TODAY. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKiVZoEkcoU

“I had no idea the GPS in my cell phone could be used by him to track me.” 

- Victim

 
If you are experiencing or are a survivor of high-tech stalking

1.  Trust your instincts, they may help save your life or the life of a family member.

2.  WARN OTHER WOMEN, your loved ones and friends may also be targeted by the predator or cyber gang.

3.  Talk about safety with law enforcement, advocates and your family.  Sexual predators and abusers will work to isolate you over time, to separate you from any network or means of support or protection. 

4.   74% of victims of abuse are harassed at work by their abuser.  A worsening tragedy, with often catastrophic outcomes for women and their children, an estimated 24-30% of working women who are victims of abuse, lose their jobs due to the impact and side effects of the abuse they have suffered, losing their ability to protect and care for themselves and their children.

5.  DO NOT ALLOW YOURSELF TO BECOME ISOLATED.  Sexual predators and abusers want to isolate you.  When you are isolated, you can be re-victimized.  When you are isolated emotional, physical and sexual abuse often escalates.

6.  REMAIN AWARE that predators or abusers are relying on their ability to manipulate and intimidate you.  Cyber - predators rely on deception to control, exploit and procure victims.

7.  Save and document everything.

Talk about safety with law enforcement, advocates and your family.  Sexual predators and abusers will work to isolate you over time, to separate you from any network or means of support or protection. 

 If you are a woman with children, and you are being stalked,
remain aware that you may not be the primary or only target of a sexual predator or trafficker.

 "One officer said it was likely the front door lock was simply picked.  We have no idea how long he had been videotaping me and the children at home"

 – Victim  

“He was able to take remote access of my computer.  I have no idea how many months he had been videotaping me through my computer webcam before I realized what was happening.  Every day I am scared.”

– Victim 

Cyber Safe Women Know the authorities such as the FBI, are equipped to deal with Cybercriminals and Cyber predators.

“  Every day is filled with pain and fear knowing they had also filmed the children through the webcam in the computers.  I can’t even count the number of times I have cried.   Every day afraid, not knowing who was given the webcam videos of the children working and playing at the computer …. how many predators have watched them.” 

- Victim

The FBI and its dedicated teams serve and protect our communities; and our community’s most vulnerable members.

The FBI has 56 field offices (also referred to as divisions) centrally located in major metropolitan areas across the U.S. and Puerto Rico. These regional field offices are the places where the FBI assess local and regional crime threats, carry out investigations and work closely with partners on cases and operations.

The contact information for the FBI Field Office closest to you can be found through the following link:

http://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field

 
Cyber Safe Women Know the authorities such as the FBI, are equipped to deal with Cybercriminals and Cyber predators.