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Cyber bullying is the act of threatening, harassing or humiliating a person through use of internet or any other digital interactive media. Targeting a person by means of emails, text messages or online postings is also referred to as cyber bullying. Teens are often seen falling prey to online bullying practices. Some of them might indulge in practices like sending online messages to cell phones with intention to hurt or embarrass the receiver.

Cyber bullying is not just associated with children and youngsters. It is also observed in adults and is referred to as cyber harassment. Cyber bullying practices range from simple activities like continuously bombarding someone with emails right up to sexual abuse by means of the internet. Passing abusive remarks about someone, making him/her a subject of ridicule in online forums and spreading gossip or rumours about him/her are also classified under the category of cyber bullying practices.

Cyber bullying is of two types, namely direct or through a proxy.
Direct attacks often involve the use of instant messengers and emails to humiliate individuals. Sending vulgar photographs through emails or uploading them on blogs and social networking sites is a form cyber bullying through direct attacks. Sending junk mails or spam and spreading malicious code by means of emails are some other example of direct cyber bullying.

When cyber bullying practices take place without the knowledge of the person being used as a bully, it is said to take place through a proxy. At times, warnings and 'click here' messages can be deceptive. They may be programmed to send wrong information to the internet service providers, thereby resulting in a legal action against the user clicking on these warnings or messages. In cyber bullying through a proxy, the cyber bullies victimise benign users by committing internet crimes in their name.

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