Recognise and get support for online and technology abuse

Digital abuse is using digital technology to monitor, stalk, harass, threaten, control or impersonate another person. Electronic technology and the internet can offer abusers the tools to monitor your behaviour or restrict your freedom.

Warning If there is immediate danger to you or someone else, call the police immediately on 999.

Digital abuse can happen to anyone, but it most often happens alongside other types of domestic abuse. It can happen through the misuse of a variety of digital devices and communication channels:

Computers, tablets, and mobile phones
Text messages and messaging apps
Online and social media platforms (such as Facebook, Tiktok, Instagram, Snapchat or YouTube)
Smart home devices
Security cameras

Identify online and technology abuse

Online and technology abuse can take many forms, and while some behaviours may appear subtle, they can have a significant emotional and psychological impact. Common signs include:

Monitoring or spying on you

Using tracking apps or GPS locators on your phone, computer, car, pets, or wearable technology such as a smart watch to locate you
Installing cameras or spyware to watch you or listen to your conversations
Hacking internet enabled devices such as PlayStations, or iPads or Netflix to trace your location
Cyberstalking or invading your privacy by monitoring your use of social media, email accounts or phone

Restricting your freedom

Not allowing you to have access to technology, such as a phone or the internet
Blocking you from using your own accounts, or creating false online accounts in your name
Hacking your email and personal accounts or demanding to know your passwords
Accessing your online banking or other personal accounts

Harassing, threatening or insulting you

Using baby monitors and smart home devices (such as Amazon Alexa or Google Home Hub) to harass, control or frighten you
Constantly contacting or harassing you via text, calls or email
‘Trolling’ you or spreading malicious information about you on your or others' social media
Sharing 'revenge porn': intimate photos or videos of you, or sextortion: threatening to share these, as a way of extorting money from you. If you have experienced this type of abuse, the Revenge Porn Helpline can support you. Find out more about image-based abuse on the Victim Support website.

Report it

In an emergency

Please call 999 now, if someone is in immediate danger, or urgently needs support.
If you have a hearing or speech impairment, use our textphone service 18000 or text us on 999 if you’ve pre-registered with the Relay UK Emergency SMS service.

All other reports

You can report digital abuse online, by calling 101, or by visiting a police station.

Protect yourself from digital abuse

You have the right to privacy online and offline. Taking the steps below will make it harder for an abuser to exploit digital technology against you, but you should always do what feels safe for you.

Use strong passwords

Protect all your online accounts with a strong password. If the person abusing you knows any of your passwords, change them straight away. Choose a password that contains upper and lower case letters, numbers and special characters, such as ! @ & %. Find out more about strong passwords.

Check social media account settings

Visit the National Cyber Security Centre for advice on how to check your settings on all the major social media platforms (Facebook, X.com, YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, Snapchat and Tiktok).

Protect your devices

Protect your phone, tablet, and computers by using a strong password or PIN, or use a combination of both.

Make sure you have antivirus and a firewall installed on your devices and that they’re up-to-date. This detects spyware that may have been installed on your phone and any files that are unsafe to open. Find out more from Get Safe Online.

Turn off location services

You can easily be tracked if your location is activated on your phone or other devices. Some apps turn location services on automatically, but you can turn it off by going into your settings:

Hide your internet history

If you don’t want someone knowing what websites you’ve visited, you can find advice on How to hide this visit from your web history.

Improve your Wifi security

Change the password that came with your home network to something stronger.
Avoid using social media or online banking when using public Wi-Fi, as it’s often insecure and your details could be stolen. To stay safe while using public Wi-Fi, connect to a virtual private network (VPN).

Talk to your bank

If you’re worried about being locked out of your bank accounts or someone limiting access to your money, speak to someone at your bank. Some banks can flag an account that might be at risk.

Get support

View or download guides from the Cyber Helpline to help you deal with:

Related forms of abuse

Online and technology abuse often happen in combination with other forms of abuse. Find out more by visiting our separate pages on:

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