Did you hear the one about the cyber-stalker from London, Ontario?
So, I recently launched a new site, CoParenting101. For a variety of reasons, I’ve installed Sitemeter on the site, and lately I’ve noticed frequent visits from someone in London, Ontario. Frequent as in several times a day. Now, I think the site has great resources, but that seemed a bit excessive, especially since (until last night) I hadn’t updated content.
I noticed that London, Ontario (LO) had visited the site almost every day since the launch, and was among the very first visitors to the site. Stats confirmed that LO linked to the site from my blog here, which is where I first announced the launch. So this wasn’t someone who just stumbled upon CoParenting randomly; this was someone who reads this blog.
Late (really late, I couldn’t sleep) last night, I noticed that LO had again visited the site…around the same time I’d posted new content just minutes earlier! This was a ridiculous…and a tiny bit scary.
Who did I know in Canada? There was a woman I interviewed for an as-yet-unpublished article…was she in Ontario? Was she divorcing? Why was she obsessively checking this site?
What if it wasn’t her? At what point does this sort of thing need to be reported? But if I reported it, what would I say? “Officers, this person in Ontario, who has made not attempt to contact me, is showing a suspicious level of interest in my co-parenting site?”
Then I noticed that some of LO’s referrals to the site included the admin link for CoParenting.
Somehow, this person had figured out my password!
At this point, I started to feel more curious than worried…so I did a bit of Googling. Guess who’s based in Canada, and likely London, Ontario. SITEMETER!
I tested my theory. Sure enough, every time I clicked on the Sitemeter icon at the bottom of the home page, Sitemeter would register a visitor from LO at that precise time.
Mystery solved!
I wonder if this has ever happened to anyone else…or if I’m the only Nervous Nelly. 
August 6th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
Way to go Sherlock Homegirl! lol
August 6th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
I tried it, and sure enough a Canadian entry showed up at the top of the list. I think you’re absolutely right.
August 6th, 2008 at 4:15 pm
Aw, but now there’s no mystery!
August 9th, 2008 at 3:17 pm
Hilarious! I used to think wild animals were stalking my tent when I was a young camper…then one night I realized it was the sound of my eyelashes brushing against the nylon sleeping bag material. I was so sure a cougar was tiptoing around the dry leaves, I would basically blink myself to sleep.
August 10th, 2008 at 7:46 pm
Hyla, you poor thing!