What crime involves attackers harassing individuals or groups through emails or instant messages?

The crime that involves attackers harassing individuals or groups through emails or instant messages is cyberstalking. Cyberstalking is characterized by the use of electronic communications to repeatedly harass or intimidate a person, causing them fear or distress. It can include sending threatening messages, spreading false information, or targeting a victim through online platforms, all of which can have serious psychological effects on the victim.

While cyberbullying is similar and often takes place within a peer context, it specifically refers to bullying behaviors among minors that can occur through social media or other online forums. Identity theft involves stealing someone’s personal information for fraudulent purposes, and phishing refers to the act of tricking individuals into providing sensitive information, typically through deceptive emails or websites. Thus, cyberstalking distinctly focuses on the repeated harassment aspect, which is why it is the correct answer in this scenario.