If you do not like the idea of cyber stalking, this is good because you will then be aware of the necessity to stay on your guard and protect yourself on the Internet.  To translate awareness into action, here are some useful tips on how to protect yourself from cyber stalkers:

 -never ever put yourself in a position of disclosing your homes address especially if you happen to be a woman.  This is particularly important if you happen to be highly visible because of your employment or occupation.  Use password protection with a well chosen password to prevent access to your cell phone, e-mail account, banking account and so on.  Choose a secret security question where only you know the answer and no cyber stalkers can guess.  You should remember that  the candidate for the US Vice President Sarah Palin chose a security questions that were so easy to answer that a cyber stalker was able to gain access to her e-mail account.  Change your password at regular intervals.

-never give your Social Security number to anyone unless you are absolutely sure why it is required and by whom.  Anyone who possesses this number including a potential cyber stalker has access to large portions of your personal information.

-use statistics or registry counters that are free to keep a log of every incoming visitor to your Web site or your blog.  These counters are available for free and will provide you with details such as IP address, city, state, time and the laying of the Internet service provider.  Not only does is provide you with valuable marketing information that can be a powerful weapon in case the cyber stalker is aiming at your Web site or your blog.

-if you are having problems in your relationship such as with your spouse, boyfriend or girlfriend  and you fear that things are going to become messy, take the appropriate precautions.  Change the password on every single one of your accounts and make sure that you choose a password that the other person cannot guess.  Tell your bank and your credit companies that this particular person is not authorized to make any changes whatsoever on any of your accounts.  Even if the other person is all right and unlikely to damage you, you need to do this in any case to get on with your life.  It may also be a good idea to get a new cell phone and a new credit card and that the other person is unaware of.

Cyber stalkers choose no one, even celebrities and high profiles. Privacy protection programs for consumers like us are inadequate. So before you commit yourself to people you meet online, it is still advisable to run their identities through the best background check service online.