High-Tech Stalking

Whether you're single or married, anyone with enough determination can easily track your digital footprints. Most of us see technology as a way to connect to the rest of the world, but technology in the wrong hands can be fatal. An article on the Red Tape Chronicles got me thinking about all the gear high-tech stalkers actually use to locate their victims. One woman interviewed for the article says her husband's jealousy was so out of control, he turned to spyware and GPS locators to track her every move. That's how he found out she visited her college web site one day, and was beaten all weekend long because he thought she was trying to reconnect with a former flame. Unfortunately, the abuse didn't stop there. Later she found out he used to searched her call history, email friends pretending to be her, and even sent her mom an e-card laced with spyware after the couple divorced.

Cindy Southworth, technology director at the National Network to End Domestic Violence, says "there's nothing new about abusive spouses using technology to terrorize. What is new is that now nearly all abusers use high-tech spying tools to try to extend their domination." That's a scary thought, and one reason to take action if you think your lover is spying on you. The National Network to End Domestic Violence recommends updating your antivirus software regularly to detect any spyware. If you're thinking about leaving, don't use your home computer to research your options, use a friend's computer instead. Be careful out there, and remember that email and instant messaging tools are not private enough. If your spouse is monitoring your every move, he/she probably has the password to all your personal accounts.