Some 46% of Malaysian respondents said they had experienced some form of online stalking from a person they had just begun to date, with many of them keen to take steps to protect themselves in the quest for love.
However, despite almost a quarter of respondents (23%) saying they had experienced some form of online stalking from a new date, people are still vulnerable owing to risks posed by location settings, data privacy and, more broadly, oversharing.
Indeed, 56% of respondents revealed that they had been willing to share passwords that potentially allowed their location to be accessed.
Almost half (47%) of respondents from Malaysia believe that, as a form of due diligence, Googling or checking the social media accounts of a person you have just started dating is acceptable, and 42% admitted to having done this when they started dating someone.
The types of abuse are varied in Malaysia, with 42% of respondents having reported some form of violence or abuse from a current or previous partner. Meanwhile, 19% of respondents had been sent unwanted emails or messages and, perhaps most worryingly, 18% had been filmed or photographed without their consent.
A further 17% admitted they had had their location tracked; 15% that their social media accounts or emails had been hacked; and 13% having had stalkerware installed on their devices without their consent.
Proportionally, more female respondents experienced some form of violence or abuse compared with male respondents (43% versus 42%). More people in a long-term relationship said they had experienced violence or abuse, compared with those currently dating (17% vs 16%). Female respondents were more concerned by the prospect of being stalked online than males (50% vs 38%).
The picture differs globally as well, with more of those who have experienced some form of online stalking being from parts of Asia, as well as South and Central America. In detail, 42% of respondents in India reported some form of online stalking, as did 38% in Mexico and 36% in Argentina.
“The connected world is brilliant and offers a myriad of possibilities, but with opportunity comes threats. And one of those threats is the ease of access to traceable data that leaves us vulnerable to abuse,” a Kaspersky spokesperson said.
“While the blame for these behaviours never lies with the victims, there is sadly still a burden upon them to take steps to minimise risks. I would encourage people to stop and do a quick check on any information, passwords or data they share, to just think through how that information could be used in nefarious hands.”
Meanwhile, Emma Pickering from the UK-based NGO Refuge, which supports women and children who experience domestic violence, said it is crucial for social media and dating apps to implement secure verification processes that can help confirm users’ profiles and photos.
“Safety guides and resources should also be readily accessible online in multiple languages, ensuring that vulnerable individuals have the necessary support without needing to register for an app.
“Given the pervasive nature of stalking and technology-facilitated abuse, we advise individuals to secure their online presence, including passwords and accounts. Those with concerns should contact the local authorities or support services,” she added.
In Malaysia, anti-stalking law and protection order provisions came into force last May 31. Those who require assistance can contact the authorities and obtain a protection order to prohibit the perpetrator from further stalking or coming near to the victim.