Women's homeless prevention charity White Caravan is concerned about the rapidly rising number of women who are subject to ongoing abuse at the hands of their ex-partners by way of online or 'cyber' stalking.

Worse, the charity is highlighting the fact that protection and legal options within this area is currently limited thanks to lapse laws and a lack of understanding and knowledge of the technology space by the police and authorities.

According to White Caravan Director Juliet Potter, women are increasingly being stalked and abused by way of location services accessible through iPhone and social media, online accounts and surveillance, through apps and spyware and increasingly, GPS tracking.

The larger issue is that cyber stalking is hard to identify and prove, particularly by women who are not tech-savvy; and even if located, anti-hacking laws sometimes aren't applicable due to loopholes of passwords and previous accessibility by an ex-partner .

"The effects of cyber-stalking is everything from harassment and fear of physical safety, through to some ex-partners even having the ability to ruin these women's income through an online businesses, their reputations and even block emails." stated Potter.

"We can't underestimate the gas-lighting and emotional toll that this harassment can have. As a society we have already recognised the damage cyber bullying can have on teenagers, so for women, combining this with intimidation from an abusive ex-partner, along with their ability to control someone's physical environment is both terrifying destabilising to the victim of such abuse.

"More concerning is the reality of the growing use of smart devices that enable remote viewing and tracking of people. Technology is proving to be the perfect storm in allowing on-going abuse and to get away with it.

"Women need to be vigilant and take measures to protect themselves in this area when thinking of separating or within leaving their partner. We must start to educate in this respect." stressed Potter.

"Mr. Wolf" (who goes by this name for his own security purposes) is the owner of www.CRSAustralia.tech, an online cyber protection service that helps women to stay safe and secure says his speciality of cyber protection is a growth market thanks to the rise in online personal threats, and the absence of assistance from police in data theft cases. The good news, however is there are ways to combat and protect against cyber stalking particularly for women that tend to suffer immensely from DV matters.

" I work to ensure safety measures are in place for private clients and offer services ranging from $100 + per hour (plus cost) to more intense reconnaissance penetration work that may include cyber intel and security firewall intrusion testing named "white hat hacking" that can cost anywhere from $5,000 to $15,000 for the week. I have been asked to help particular clients with very specific needs, from actors to CEO's and even as far as government operatives," says Wolfe.

"There is a large gap in the market for services that require personal data consolidation and safety, let's say a single Mum with an array of different hardware and smart devices at home, including wifi, PC's to kids iPads, phones and emails.

"The personal approach to safety has become non-existent and reliant on the software approach but the problem is no longer a software approach its "dataware" whereby we were reliant on these larger companies that did all the hard work for us, though the reality is 99% of all WIFI points in this country are vulnerable to attack.

"Children are learning python programming starter courses at school using Adruino robotics that cost under $10.00 and have the ability to do everything from open their neighbours garage door to matching the radar signal of a car locking system. I mean it's very much that simple." said Wolf.

"For example, take your phone that is connected to a service and you pay that phone company for a service to use at your discretion. Unfortunately, every APP on your phone is downloading data and using your download data megabytes that you pay for to update services that these larger companies flick on whenever terms and conditions they choose to after they have been downloaded. These data upgrades or 'updates' are most times made without your knowledge and your phone company is even charging you for this upgrade that you didn't authorise.

"When downloads are made, sent or received they send (Packets)". Packets contain bits of information that can be hacked or received under the right settings and timing by a hacker that knows what to do and is set up and ready to go.

"All this may sound crazy, though crazy is exactly how our system and services has responded to various domestic related issues and the mid-tear family or single-parent and children are vulnerable, I could simply display this by sitting in a car across the road from any residential home in the suburbs and show you how easy it is to consume data. It is unbelievably simple if you have the know-how. From private emails to bank records to work addresses to the very shopping list you sent to your son by text; it's really that simple when a hacker establishes one point of entry - from that point on its open-door access to obtaining loads of data and I haven't yet touched the surface about online malicious intrusion.

"Today the importance of data-ware consolidation is necessary. Where a personal approach is required, one of our consultants will usually engage in securing all your devices, having the option of installing such safety mechanisms as cross-platform security, VPN's, storing your personal data on a virtual network or a storage device instead of the Cloud, using a dedicated safety screen for payments, ensuring your WIFI is turned on privately and not available to be seen via other networks along with passwords along with ensuring access-point data records are kept and stored with one of our agents should you ever lose them. We further can install audio and video security cameras at home or at other entry points that do not intrude on privacy. The list goes on." Wolf stated.

According to Wolf, it's a matter of educating and informing women to be smart to ensure their safety as ignorance is definitely no bliss when it comes to the technology world.

A few tips include:
1. Ensure you back-up your information to a storage device that is kept somewhere safe;
2. Write down your passwords on a piece of paper and store them somewhere safe;
3. Do not save private details to 'note' APPs on your iPhone;
4. Download a simple recording APP on your phone that is at the ready in the event of a domestic abusive or domestic violence situation that may involve either your ex=partner or the police;
5. Always have your phone settings location on 'OFF'.
6. If your family uses one PC for updating iTunes, then this means they would all have access to your location, including work colleagues if you are on a network;
7. Download and use a Australian VPN service not an international one, as it will cause more frustration than anything else when wanting to access bank APPS and so on;
8. Stay away from providing online companies with your details, even such as Apple, Google or Facebook. These companies generate profile data over time and use this information with our government to profile you in reference to healthcare, benefits etc, limiting your opportunities in due course;
9. Keep evidence of all contact made with you and your former partner on a device that's secured and locked. Always backup your information on your phone once a week or set it to automate mode in case you are forgetful;
10. Separate work and personal data searches ie you may be looking for a holiday at work compared to browsing at home; you are more inclined to be hacked at work than at home, giving the opportunity to a smart hacker to realise you won't be home during a holiday period.

Wolf said, "Our website contains much information to get members of the public informed and engaged we encourage a DIY approach if only for basic privacy and protection in regards to saving costs. No one should be more vulnerable simply because they are disadvantaged financially as a great deal of women who are separated are vulnerable in this respect.