5 ways to stalker-proof your life (as told by You on Netflix)

You on Netflix inadvertently provides viewers with a roadmap for stalker safety.

A story about a girl and her stalker has become a pop-culture sensation. You on Netflix (originally aired on Lifetime earlier this year), is one part romance, two parts thriller, and one thousand parts horror show.

When Joe (Penn Badgley) spots Beck (Elizabeth Lail) browsing in his bookshop, he turns a mild flirtation into an all-encompassing obsession. He stalks her social media, tracks down her apartment, peeps in her windows, and hacks into her computer. Girl left her life more open than a Waffle House in a hurricane, so Joe easily gains access to every nook and cranny of her being.  And that’s just the beginning.

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Joe’s stalker savvy allows him to follow Beck anywhere he wishes with ease. He tracks her like a hunter tracks vulnerable prey, wearing camouflage, lurking in corners, and literally getting her scent when he finds a way into her apartment. Ew. I’m not victim blaming here – obviously Joe is fully responsible for his own creeptastic actions – but the characters on this show could have definitely benefitted from applying a few simple rules to their daily routines. Joe says as much while he’s actively doing his stalker thing. Just sayin’ that if Beck had curtains and a password on her cell, she would have been a much less appealing target for Joe’s intense and dangerous obsessions.

Learn from Beck’s mistakes. Here are five things you can do right now to lock down your life and get the privacy and security you deserve.

One – Get Some Freaking Curtains, Girllllll

Ok, if this one weren’t obvious enough (we’re looking at you, Beck), you gotta cover up them windows. Unless you’re an exhibitionist, I guess. Then go right ahead and let the world see in. For most people though, curtains are an absolute must.

I know, I know. I hear you. Actual curtains can be pricey. But even just cheap sheets or bolts of clearance fabric tacked directly against your walls will do. (Source: I definitely did that in my 20’s.) Preventing eyeballs from peeping your living space and/or daily routine is everything. If you live in a highly populated area, consider it mandatory… especially if you live on a freaking ground floor.

Two – Password Protect EV-ER-Y-THING

Yes, it’s annoying. But it could save your life. Or at least those sensitive snaps you took and then forgot to delete… maybe go delete those now?

Password protection ensures that no one can snoop if you lose your tech. Well, at least not immediately. When you set up your passwords, make sure to also install and activate your devices in a locator app. These apps give you the ability to track your stuff, but also the ability to wipe them clean of any personal information if they fall into the wrong hands.

Three – Don’t Be An Idiot With Your Password

Hello? We live in the 21st century where hackers can crack your password by knowing a few simple things about you. So, even if you do toss a password lock on your stuff, be savvy about your choices. The tech thriller Mr. Robot literally focuses entire segments on how easy it is to hack a typical password. Usually all a hacker needs to know is a few key nuggets of info – your pet’s name, your address, your birthday, your favorite sports team, etc. The sweet simplicity of the human brain is almost humorous, until you’re the one who’s being hacked.

I’m guessing Peach Salinger (Shay Mitchell) didn’t see Mr. Robot. Girl’s password was so simple! The bish didn’t even add any numbers or characters to it! Oh, Peach. You tried, I guess?

The internet-focused podcast Reply All consistently advocates for the use of a password manager – a secure, one stop shop that will help you generate random and robust passwords for all of your tech – and they helpfully provided links on how to protect your digital presence in the show notes of a recent episode. Check it out here.

Four – Don’t Jog Alone

Especially not in Central Park. And double especially not with headphones on. Peach Salinger may be a lot of things, but she’s not the brightest when it comes to blind spots in her jogging route. It’s certainly not fair that women have to protect themselves when they exercise their right to exercise outside, but it’s an ugly reality. Time and time again, grisly stories about lady runners appear in the news.

After the recent horrific Mollie Tibbets case, ABC News was able to put together an entire list of women who had been kidnapped and murdered while jogging alone outside. It happens. It’s awful. But it’s the world we live in. Protect yourself.

Five – Avoid Posting Your Exact Location on Social Media

This one doesn’t seem super fair in the age of ubiquitous online posting and self-branding, but it makes sense. Season 1 of Netflix series Friends From College illustrated the dangers of posting geotagged content online in an episode where a group of friends hunts one of their buddies down after he posts an image of a gorgeous dish at a local restaurant. The result is not fun for anyone.

Even when it’s just friends stalking friends, letting people know about your every move can be a bad idea. It’s easy to forget the reach that social media has, and that a single post could be the thing that outs you in so many different ways.

But if you wanna hit up a Bed Bath and Beyond to grab some curtains, go ahead and post that shizz. It could save a life.

‘You’ Season 1 is currently streaming on Netflix.