Online Predators, Internet Child Predators & iPredator

Welcome to iPredator’s online predator, education & information page. Online predators are one typology included in the concept of iPredator, which is a theoretical construct developed by New York State licensed psychologist and forensic psychology consultant, Michael Nuccitelli, Psy.D. As Information and Communications Technology (ICT) becomes more widespread, cyber-attack prevention, education and protection are areas requiring immediate attention. The Information Age has many benefits to humanity, but it is vital to identify and prevent the malevolent and nefarious elements that exist in cyberspace and Information and Communications Technology. The definitions of iPredator and online sexual predation are as follows:

Online Predator Definition

Online Predators: The typology of iPredator that is categorized in Online Predators has a variety of different terms used to describe the same patterns and motivations for their abuse. Historically, those who are not familiar with the profiles of sexual predators, pedophiles and child molesters tend to view them as being easily identified and incompetent. Not only are the vast majority of sexual predators their victim’s neighbor, relative or mentor, but the “veil of anonymity” in cyberspace makes accurate assailant identification a daunting task.

Online Predators are defined as adult online users who seek to exploit vulnerable children or adolescents for sexual or other abusive purposes. Online Predators are sexual predators who use Information and Communications Technology and the Internet to locate, target and victimize minors. Although online sexual predation occurs between adult online users, the the underage minor child is the primary target.

Common forums used by Online Predators to target children include chat rooms, instant messaging or social networking sites for the purpose of flirting with and meeting minors for illicit sexual experiences. Online Predators often are motivated to manipulate or “groom” a minor with the goal of meeting and engaging in sexual activity, despite knowing they are engaging in illegal activities. In the simplest definition, “grooming” is best described as a sexual predator’s premeditated method of manipulating a child with the result being sexually themed.

In instances where meeting their victims to engage in sexual activities is not the primary objective, online predators also attempt to persuade children and adolescents to participate in some form of online sexual and/or sexually provocative activity motivated by sexual deviance and/or for financial gain engaging in the distribution and sale of child pornography. At present, distribution and sale of online child pornography is one of the most profitable business ventures an online user can undertake.

iPredator

iPredator: A person, group or nation who, directly or indirectly, engages in exploitation, victimization, coercion, stalking, theft or disparagement of others using Information and Communications Technology [ICT]. iPredators are driven by deviant fantasies, desires for power and control, retribution, religious fanaticism, political reprisal, psychiatric illness, perceptual distortions, peer acceptance or personal and financial gain. iPredators can be any age or gender and are not bound by economic status, race, religion or national heritage. iPredator is a global term used to distinguish anyone who engages in criminal, coercive, deviant or abusive behaviors using ICT. Central to the construct is the premise that Information Age criminals, deviants and the violently disturbed are psychopathological classifications new to humanity.

Whether the offender is a cyberstalker, cyber harasser, cybercriminal, online sexual predator, internet troll, cyber terrorist, cyberbully, online child pornography consumer/distributor or engaged in internet defamation or nefarious online deception, they fall within the scope of iPredator. The three criteria used to define an iPredator include:

• A self-awareness of causing harm to others, directly or indirectly, using ICT.
• The usage of ICT to obtain, exchange and deliver harmful information.
• A general understanding of Cyberstealth used to engage in criminal or deviant activities or to profile, identify, locate, stalk and engage a target.

Unlike human predators prior to the Information Age, iPredators rely upon the multitude of benefits offered by Information and Communications Technology [ICT]. These assistances include exchange of information over long distances, rapidity of information exchanged and the infinite access to data available. Malevolent in intent, iPredators habitually deceive others using ICT in the abstract and artificial electronic universe known as cyberspace. Therefore, as the internet naturally offers all ICT users anonymity, if they decide, iPredators actively design online profiles and diversionary tactics to remain undetected and untraceable.

Cyberstealth, a sub-tenet of iPredator, is a covert method by which iPredators attempt to establish and sustain complete anonymity while they engage in ICT activities planning their next assault, investigating innovative surveillance technologies or researching the social profiles of their next target. Concurrent with the concept of Cyberstealth is iPredator Victim Intuition [IVI], an iPredator’s IVI is their aptitude to sense a target’s ODDOR [Offline Distress Dictates Online Response], online & offline vulnerabilities, psychological weaknesses, technological limitations, increasing their success of a cyber-attack with minimal ramifications.

Free Online Predator Assessment Links

iPredator Probability Inventory-Internet Predator (IPI-IP)

Online Predator Prevention Checklist (OPPC)

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Michael Nuccitelli, Psy.D.

Michael Nuccitelli, Psy.D. is a NYS licensed psychologist, cyberpsychology researcher and online safety educator. In 2009, Dr. Nuccitelli finalized his dark side of cyberspace concept called iPredator. Since 2010, he has advised those seeking information about cyberbullying, cyberstalking, cybercriminal minds, internet addiction and his Dark Psychology concept. By day Dr. Nuccitelli is a practicing psychologist, clinical supervisor and owner of MN Psychological Services, PLLC. After work and on the weekends, he volunteers helping online users who have been cyber-attacked. Dr. Nuccitelli’s is always available to interested parties and the media at no cost. This website and everything created by Dr. Nuccitelli is educational, free and public domain.