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Staying safe in an online world

1 October 2020

We live in an increasingly inter-connected world. And while social media may be great for keeping in touch with friends and family around the world, sometimes it can be used against you, particularly during a relationship breakdown. Cyber-stalking is domestic violence and is sadly a common complaint among women who have experienced coercion and control in their intimate partner relationships.

All too often it’s also reported in criminal proceedings following the death of a domestic violence victim, such as Hannah Clarke and her three children, who were murdered in February 2020 by Ms Clarke’s estranged husband. The tragedy occurred just weeks before the husband was due to face court on charges of breaching a domestic violence order.

New research from the Queensland University of Technology has found that 100 per cent of survivors of domestic abuse reported that tech abuse, or cyber-stalking, began or escalated at separation.

The most common types of abuse are repetitive texting or emailing, constant monitoring by the ex-spouse on Facebook or other social media platforms, and also GPS tracking.

This was especially an issue for those navigating arrangements for their children post-separation.

It’s a good idea to frequently check the privacy settings on your devices and social media, organise replacement devices if need be and prevent hidden tracking – there are apps out there which can be installed on your phone, without your knowledge, that track your location.

So what can you do to protect yourself from cyber-stalking? Steps include:

  • Have a data security professional assess your network and devices. If necessary, get a new device.
  • Encrypt all your data, laptops, external drives and portable devices.
  • Use encrypted messaging apps such as Signal or WhatsApp and ensure you have multi-factor authentication on your devices.
  • Set up a new email account and do not access it on shared devices.
  • Ensure your phone account is not accessible through online accounts detailing call history and location.
  • Change all passwords on all social media and devices. Put a passcode on all phones.
  • Check privacy settings on devices and social media.
  • Turn off Bluetooth and GPS when not in use. Turn off location sharing on devices too.
  • Ensure devices are not linked through Apple ID.
  • Ensure photos uploaded to social media are not geo-tagging your location.
  • Delete unknown apps on your phone and keep an eye out for for excessive battery use.
  • Having one separate device, used solely for communicating with your ex-spouse, can also be a good idea.

As always, if you are feeling unsafe, contact police.

If you need help negotiating a relationship breakdown, contact Michael Lynch Family Lawyers  on (07) 3221 4300 for trusted, confidential and personalised advice.

Staying safe in an online world: Beautiful Lady with Laptop in a Cozy Room.
2021-11-05T15:43:53+10:00

Client Testimonials

Amy, thank you for all that you have done during this matter. You impressed me with your professionalism from our initial meeting, and you have proven beyond doubt, to have had the skills and knowledge required. You are a credit to the company, and I would highly recommend you to anyone in a similar situation.
R.P., Cleveland
So pleased to have had a good, sound and knowledgeable firm.
C.W., Brookfield

Thank you for helping me through this difficult time. You have been caring, compassionate and efficient. Some of my divorcing friends have not been so fortunate. In my mind, you are the best family lawyer in Brisbane. If anyone I know needs a good family lawyer, I will tell them to speak to you. Thanks again.

B.T., Clayfield

Michael Lynch Family Lawyers know what they are talking about.

R.M., Warwick
Amy, thank you. You have been diligent, accurate and pro-active for the entire duration of my matter. I appreciate it.
R.P., Cleveland

I just wanted to get in touch to say thanks for helping me get through my custody and settlement. Thanks again to you and your staff. You have had a significant positive impact in my kids’ lives!

B.S., Brisbane
May I take this opportunity to express my gratitude to you and your staff for the excellent professional services I received. In a word, priceless.
D.H., Hendra
I appreciate my lawyer’s professional approach and her being on top of my situation.
N.S., Mt Gravatt
A personalised and professional service. Information has been clear and provided timely to assist my decision-making.
S.S., Hamilton
I was guided through a really difficult time with expertise of Michael Lynch Family Lawyers. I am more than happy with the outcome of mediation.
J.H., Windaroo

Many thanks to Stephanie for her help and support through this time, I was incredibly impressed with her work.

L.K., North Lakes

Your staff is knowledgeable, professional and very calm.

A.C., Helensvale

After utilising the mediation services team recommended by your organisation, my ex-partner and I were able to reach some interim agreements about parenting. I am incredibly grateful for the advice provided by Debra Effeney; and found your firm’s services to be exceptionally professional. If we needed to consult a family lawyer in the future, we would have no hesitation in reconnecting with your firm.

K.M., Paddington
Thank you for providing me with a professional yet empathetic approach to gain the best outcome for me. My solicitor was excellent in explaining the processes and in representing me in Court. You have great customer service!
T.V., Everton Park
I like that my lawyer treated me like a friend and kept jargon to a minimum. She was easy to contact and kept me informed.
L.R., Samford

You, guys, provide extraordinary service.

A.O., North Brisbane

At Michael Lynch Family Lawyers I got professional and ‘no-nonsense’ advice, costs were within quoted amounts and my matter was resolved quickly – well done!

L.R., Ascot

I was always confident that I was getting the very best advice.

T.S., Flinders

I really liked the personable service by Michael Lynch Family Lawyers, the simple plain language you adopt and everyone’s patience.

A.O., Kedron
The professionalism and reliability delivered by Amy Honan was fantastic. I had an urgent matter around my property sale and Amy offered to provide assistance over a weekend if I required it – that’s above and beyond!
E.F., Nundah
If I need a family lawyer in the future I’ll be heading to Michael Lynch Family Lawyers again.
C.W., Brookfield
I really appreciated the happiness of your secretarial staff.
G.C., Clayfield

I was very impressed with the initial interview. Everything was well-explained, and the advice was honest about what I should expect.

C.M., Morningside

My lawyer has been an amazing help through this stressful time. I will remember her help for the rest of my life. Thank you.

J.H., Brisbane

Michael Lynch Family Lawyers are easy to deal with, and your systems are good.

D.T., Ferny Grove
I liked my solicitor keeping things as simple as possible.
S.M., Clayfield

My solicitor is a good listener. My documentation maintained the high moral ground.

S.S., Hamilton

My lawyer was the most knowledgeable of all lawyers I spoke to when looking for a lawyer. Michael Lynch Family Lawyers showed professionalism.

R.R., Brighton
I always felt that the service provided by Michael Lynch Family Lawyers was of a high standard. Each time, after appointments I came away feeling secure. Keep doing what you are and maintain the ‘family feel’ that permeates your services.
C.W., Brookfield
I like your friendly service and the ability to speak to my solicitor directly.
R.G., Wishart

Thank you for being very personable, professional and always providing me with the most appropriate advice in my times of difficulty. The other party’s lawyers were extremely aggressive, while Michael Lynch Family Lawyers remained calm and professional.

S.D., Parkinson

Thank you very much to everyone at Michael Lynch Family Lawyers. Thank you for helping me get my life back and make a fresh start. To have that fresh start without fear and anxiety is priceless.

A.A., Perth

I have appreciated the way that you and the staff at your firm have handled my situation. I would especially like to mention the professional and caring way my lawyer conducted my case, I am deeply grateful and extremely happy with the results. I will be referring others to your service.

J.H., Wellington Point

Thank you, you kept me sane in a difficult situation and gave me the encouragement and the confidence to keep going. You made me feel extremely comfortable.

A.M., Chambers Flat
Amy’s work was extremely professional but above all she has a manner and wisdom in dealing with people under stress. I will be recommending your firm to anyone that requires assistance.
K.H., Augustine Heights

I would like to thank your firm for the support and compassion shown while dealing with my matter.

C.M., Brisbane
Michael is very personable and very good at covering the material and explaining the strategy.
J.O., Hawthorne
The staff at Michael Lynch Family Lawyers were great. Everyone was fantastic, professional, understanding, caring and always communicated with me. I knew I was in good hands.
A.A., Eatons Hill
My family lawyer was very helpful in assisting me to combat a very ugly situation without stooping to the low levels that the other solicitor attempted to take us.
M.J., Manly
Michael Lynch Family Lawyers always gave me competent and knowledgeable advice. I was consistently kept up to date. The meetings and phone calls were kept business-like, yet caring and thoughtful of my emotional state at the time. Thank you.
J.S., Holland Park
My lawyer acted with professionalism in all her dealings with me and with the lawyer on the other side. I was always kept in the loop. I liked her approach. Thanks.
D.S., Coorparoo
Thank you for the great newsletter. Your article on “Coping with Christmas” is brilliant – clear, caring and helpful. Thanks again!
C.T., Bribie Island

I’m very glad ‘Michael Lynch Family Lawyers’ is my lawyer and not the other side’s solicitor.

S.S., Hamilton

Thank you Debra for all the work you did for me, you both made the process manageable and brought sense to the chaos.

R.B., Toowong
Your team’s communication with me was exceptional, I knew exactly what was happening.
A.A., Eatons Hill
Many thanks for your assistance – life is now great – I’m moving on.
J.K., Mansfield
Your team is professional, warm, friendly and real.
N.R., Crows Nest
Lovely to deal with and provides a balanced view in what are very difficult circumstances.
A.C., Morningside
I appreciate you being upfront with fee estimates. You also have a fantastic website and the seminars REALLY helped to get me focussed.
T.C., Tarragindi
Your newsletters are great, I appreciate them.
K.B., Carina
Michael Lynch Family Lawyers have really listened to me. I felt confident my case was handled well. The law has changed recently, and I did not feel that a previous law practice I spoke to was suitably up-to-date.
P.B., Carindale

We had such a positive experience with Michael Lynch Family Lawyers, and we highly recommend their services. Meticulous attention to detail, attended quickly to every additional request we made, and made sure we always knew exactly where we were every step of the way. Our lawyer took what was such a stressful and emotional time for our family, and made the process feel so smooth and seamless.

N.B., Brisbane
Michael, thank you again for your presence here yesterday. We really appreciated the clarity and accessibility of your presentation. It is a rare thing to find somebody who not only has expertise, but also has a skill in communicating it.
J.S., Brisbane
Thank you for your ongoing conciliatory approach in this matter and as always I appreciate your level headed advice. I certainly feel that I ended up with the right Solicitor.
S.C., Nundah
I was impressed by my solicitor’s attention to detail and her concern for me, and that the process was explained to me and that I understood it at all times.
B.W., Chapel Hill
Thank you, you placed my needs first, you were aware of the need to reach a final result and not get caught up in the personal issues of the other party.
S.L., Moranbah
Amy, thanks very much to you and your team. Throughout my dealings with MLFL I have been continually impressed with your level of professionalism and, in particular, your understanding of circumstances and the articulate way you conduct yourself. I was completely satisfied with today’s outcome and without your experience and expertise in family law I doubt that the result would have been achieved.
M.R., West End
My solicitor provided a personalised service, prompt and quick responses and cost information prior to my commitment.
G.C., Southport
Thank you for the outstanding legal advice you have provided and professionalism in which you conduct yourself. I am truly thankful that it was you who represented me.
M.T., Stafford