Cyberstalking: A Personal Journey and Steps to Reclaim Your Privacy

In today’s digital age, the intersection of technology and personal security has become increasingly complex. Recently, I found myself navigating the distressing experience of cyberstalking, as someone maliciously gained root access to both my computer and phone. In this article, I’d like to share my journey and the steps I took to regain control of my devices and ensure my safety.

Strange Occurrences

It all began late last year when I began to notice unexplainable activities on my computer. My browser would switch tabs on its own, music would play at random from iTunes, and, alarmingly, my mouse would move without my input. The situation escalated when I observed unusual behaviors on my Android device. Icons rearranged themselves spontaneously, and while I was leisurely scrolling through Reddit, the app would scroll down without any command from me.

One particularly unsettling incident occurred just as I returned home. As I approached my front door, my phone inexplicably started playing a boxing training video that I had not opened. I distinctly remembered using my phone not long before to calculate my grocery bill, but now it seemed to have a mind of its own. To add to the creepiness, while chatting with my cousin, I could hear random numerical inputs and a muffled voice that neither of us was producing. This led me to feel as though we were being monitored.

Taking Action

In response to these alarming incidents, I made the difficult decision to dispose of my computer. A day prior to its disposal, I noticed a peculiar instance where “4chan” briefly flashed at the corner of my Firefox browser. When inspecting my hard drives, I found that my previously empty “D” drive now inexplicably contained 6.3GB of data. This raised significant concerns about the potential for incrimination, as it could appear to authorities as if I had downloaded illegal content. Fearing the implications, I eliminated my computer, disconnected from the internet, and switched to a basic phone devoid of internet access, opting for an Alcatel model as a safeguard.

Despite my efforts to simplify my digital presence, I continued to experience issues. Notifications for “Unknown Application” surfaced on my basic phone, which had no capability for apps or internet browsing. Additionally, I began to hear a clicking sound each time I locked or unlocked the device, a function I couldn’t find in the settings. Even draft messages would disappear without