Digital Stalking: Florida Man Accused of Tracking Ex’s Every Move with Apple AirTags
Stalking is no laughing matter. I know. It happened to me before I moved to Cape Coral. One night, after leaving the radio station, a girl followed me home, which was weird enough. But later on, she broke into my house at 2 am. I caught her red-handed in my bathroom, holding my toothbrush and my flip-flop sandals. That’s when she looked me dead in the eyes and said, “You are a Viking.” Needless to say, I was horrified. But that is nothing compared to what this guy put his ex-girlfriend through.
According to WFLA, a man from Florida, Roberto Janero-Quian, was arrested for stalking after allegedly tracking his former girlfriend using some Apple AirTags. Now, this whole ordeal started when his girlfriend broke up with him back in October. But then things started to get a little crazy in January when he began harassing and stalking her.
Janero-Quian’s tactics were unsettling. He would make it a routine to pass by her home every single day. On top of that, he went as far as writing letters and taping them to her car’s windshield, not just once, but multiple times. What’s more alarming is that the victim discovered Apple AirTags in her vehicle on at least two occasions.
Despite the woman blocking Roberto’s phone number, he persisted in contacting her using different, unknown numbers. His voicemails were anything but pleasant, filled with threats aimed at coercing her into returning his calls, with menacing undertones.
As a result of his actions, Janero-Quian found himself arrested on Thursday. Now, he’s facing serious charges like stalking and installing those Apple AirTags. Currently, he’s behind bars where he can’t bother his ex-girlfriend.
Top Mistakes That Can Get You Hacked
Reusing Passwords
Many of us are still using the same password across many different accounts. While it’s pretty common, it’s not a good habit to have. If you’re reusing passwords for multiple websites and accounts, a hacker could potentially use that password to log into those accounts. Nobody wants to have to remember a 16-digit password for every single one of their accounts, especially when getting locked out of a computer or platform at the most inconvenient time. But if a security breach were to happen, that’s one less problem to worry about. Like, remembering which accounts are at risk of a threat.
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Oversharing On Social Media
Personal data exposure is really a thing. When you share personal information on social media, you expose yourself to the risk of identity theft and fraud. According to the New York Institute of Technology, Cybercriminals can use the information you share, such as your full name, date of birth, and location, to impersonate you or launch targeted attacks. Most people know that sharing sensitive information such as your car information, address, work history, or phone numbers can make you vulnerable. But some people forget that this information can also be identified through pictures and innocent as sharing your new car photo or your child’s first day of school photo.
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Using Unsecure Wi-Fi
Hackers can use unsecured Wi-Fi connections to distribute malware. If you allow file-sharing across a network, the hacker can easily plant infected software on your computer. Free public Wi-Fi is available almost everywhere at places like restaurants, hotels, airports, bookstores, and even retail outlets. But public wi-fi comes with risks. “Hackers can also use an unsecured Wi-Fi connection to distribute malware. If you allow file-sharing across a network, the hacker can easily plant infected software on your computer,” said Kaspersky, a tech company. Some people highly recommended looking into a VPN to encrypt internet traffic and keep your data hidden.
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Clicking Suspicious Links
Clicking on a suspicious link or phishing link can sometimes set off a malware download that often contains malicious files. According to Aura, a credit monitoring platform, these links are capable of collecting information stored on your device. Hackers can steal credit card numbers, bank account numbers, usernames and passwords, and other personal information. If you’ve clicked on a phishing link, Cyber Tec Security suggest completely disconnecting from the internet.
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Out-Of-Date Software
The last thing many of us want to do is update our software. But there are many reasons why it’s important to do so. Software updates not only fix and improve problems with your software it also helps you avoid hackers. According to the University of Idaho, software updates often include patches that fix vulnerabilities or bugs that hackers can exploit to access your system or data. “By installing the latest updates, you can reduce the risk of cyberattacks and protect your personal and business information,” they said.
Ralf Hahn/ Getty ImagesNot Using Multi-Factor Authentication
One of the most effective things you can do to protect your online accounts is turning on multi-factor, or two-factor, authentication for as many of your accounts as possible. This method often uses a piece of information such as a code generated by an app or sent to your phone alongside a password. Two-factor authentication adds an additional layer of security to the authentication process. According to Tech Target, using multi-factor authentication makes it harder for attackers to gain access to a person’s devices or online accounts. Most companies have this in place for their employers but it’s something you can use for personal emails too.
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