Always informed your parents or friends about your schedule and expected return timings so that they can do something when you exceed those timings. Watch on the way when you are traveling on the public transport as the attackers are looking for the vulnerable targets. Carrying a cell phone is another way to have a contact with your family if you find any difficulty. Lastly, you should inform the police about any mis-happening occur in your neighborhood. So by taking care of these measures you can avoid the attack on you.

If you are not able to avoid the attack then you can use your force to defend yourself. But force should be reasonable, means that you are not allowed to use the deadly force when the opponent uses the reasonable force. Your motive is to handle the present situation rather to give any ammunition.