How dangerous can it be that you have your accounts on the main social networks configured as public? Or tag the restaurant where you’re eating? Almost everyone does.
Let’s try to turn the questions around. Do you remember ever searching for someone you just met on social media to find out as much as possible about that person? Or maybe a friend wasn’t replying to your messages and you went on his Instagram to find out what he was up to? You are not the only one. Many of us do. It is one of the objectives of social networks. However, not everyone does it just out of curiosity. And that’s where the problems start.
extortion of all kinds
A British study published in June 2022 revealed that 19% of those surveyed were victims of ‘doxing‘ (also spelled ‘doxxing’), a practice in which people with bad intentions post, usually online, the personal information of their victims with the intention of extorting them or intimidate them.
Ultimately, stalkers seek to scare, embarrass, and create enormous distress for users, sometimes effectively demanding money, sometimes out of sheer revenge or a personal sense of justice.
Although ‘doxing’ can be perpetrated by strangers – both individuals and groups – it can also be it can be carried out by acquaintances or even by people from your own environment. Doxing is especially dangerous because its consequences can range from cyberbullying to real-world bullying and harassment, and even assault and murder.
As a basic rule to follow, many of us are already cautious about protecting our basic information on social networks. Data such as phone number or home address are often kept private. But what about the rest of the information? The city where we live? Where do we work? These are all details that we voluntarily share with the public.
A danger to the young
Doxing is so widespread and entrenched in the digital world that it can easily be confused with other types of online bullying. Also, the longer people are online, the more vulnerable they become, this is the case for both Generation Z and Generation Alpha.
Doxing over a simple disagreement or rivalry in an online video game can be enough to create a huge emotional charge due to fear of consequences and embarrassment, especially if it involves children.
Platforms like Twitch, Steam, Discord y Roblox they can give a false sense of security, as most interactions are between user IDs and player avatars. However, the small details are enough for determined ‘doxers’ to dig up personal information, for example by searching for a target user ID on Twitter, where they can find more personal information and a list of friends.
But it’s not just about world’ gaming‘. Virtual school resources based on video or social media platforms can also become dangerous if proper privacy standards are not established, both by schools and parents.
How can we avoid ‘doxing’?
There is no easy way to answer this question. Ultimately, if you don’t have any information online, it will be very difficult for someone to find anything about you. But even if you’re a typical Internet user — and in case someone wants to leak your personal data for whatever reason — chances are you’ve already shared enough.
Fortunately, there are ways to make it difficult for someone to collect information about you. ESET, an expert cybersecurity company, proposes to avoid sharing personal data as much as possible, use two-factor (or multi-factor) authentication (2FA, MFA) in all your accounts, as well as strong passwords. You should also make sure that your video conferences and calls are private and encrypted and avoid opening suspicious links or sent from unknown accounts.
Any user is susceptible to falling for a scam over the Internet. If you have any such problem You must report and block the aggressor through the tools available in the social network where the harassment occurs. Also, take screenshots of any details that may be relevant to support your case, make sure all your social media is private, and consider pausing it for a while.
You should also let your friends or family know what’s going on, especially if your home or work address has been exposed. Finally, you’ll need to let your bank know what’s going on, make sure your credit card details are secure, and consider contacting your local authorities.