In today’s technological advancements, most of the people were using internet as one of the

mainstream mediums to carry out various tasks through social media and public forums.
However, if they are not cautious doing these tasks, they may face some serious problems over
the internet, and one of them is cyberstalking. “Cyberstalking” the term can be defined as
stalking or harassment, which takes place on the internet by an individual or a group of people
targeting a particular individual or groups by sending unwanted or unpleasant messages to a
person’s e-mail or in social media. The main motive behind cyberstalking is very simple and
clear i.e., to take revenge or to control or to defame someone, and in some cases gathering
person’s sensitive information to use in other crimes, this is known as identity theft (Tripwire,
2020).

Currently I am living in Virginia, so before discussing legal aspects related to cyberstalking in

Virginia State, it is very difficult for any enforcement to capture professional attackers because
they use enormous ways to attack someone over the internet. Below are some of the codes that
relate to cyberstalking in the state of Virginia. ("Cyberstalking in Virginia/Washington, D.C. | S.L.
England PLLC", 2020)

 Code § 18.2-60.3:
If any person, involves in conduct focused at another person with the intention of
fearing them to death, or assault, or bodily injure them over the internet more than once
would fall under cyberstalking.

 Code § 18.2-11:
According to this code, if any individual or group found guilty then they come under
Class 1 misdemeanor and as a first-time offender/s, which includes a jail sentence up to
one year and/or a fine up to 2500 dollars, and within five years of span if they found
guilty again then they may face jail up to five years and/or $2500 fine.

 Code § 18.2-186.4:
The above code states, if any person use another person’s identity with having
intention to force, threaten or harass and the penalty will be same as Class 1 offense.

 Code § 9.1-101:
If any individual, who tries to interrupt or by having a reason to know that the other
person is a law enforcement officer. This section is considered as Class 6 offense, and
also a minimum of 6 months confinement is included (Abuse, 2020).
References:

Tripwire, I. (2020). What Cyberstalking Is and How to Prevent It. Retrieved 7 February 2020, from
https://www.tripwire.com/state-of-security/security-awareness/what-cyberstalking-prevent/

Cyberstalking in Virginia/Washington, D.C. | S.L. England PLLC. (2020). Retrieved 7 February 2020, from
https://www.slengland.com/cyberstalking

Abuse, W. (2020). Cyberstalking Laws - Virginia. Retrieved 7 February 2020, from

https://www.haltabuse.org/resources/laws/virginia.shtml