Most of us nowadays rely heavily on the internet to enjoy social media, online education, remote work, and all sorts of entertainment and amusements on online platforms. But widespread utilization doesn’t equal widespread understanding, unfortunately. The good news is that apparently there are plenty of ways to stay safe when online but how specifically could this be done smartly in order to preserve our psycho-physical integrity? 

Let’s ‘talk for instance about doxing, a topic which we are already familiar with and let’s try to list and go through all the tricks we could put in practice in our daily lives  to protect ourselves from it. We shouldn’t forget that doxing for online users represents a peril that is always behind the corner, for instance the most significant dangerous part is that whereas it often leads to damages most of the time is not even illegal and therefore juridically prosecutable in many countries across the globe. So, briefly, what could be the useful tips to protect ourselves from this raging and perilous phenomenon? For example, if doxxers expose information that is part of public records (birth and marriage certificates, divorce records, etc.) even without your consent, it is not considered an illegal activity. However, disclosing private information like bank statements, credit card numbers, personal email addresses, pictures, or other details is illegal.

To start with an only apparently obvious statement you have to acknowledge that when online you are always potentially vulnerable to doxing.  When you go online, you leave a footprint behind. And for someone who wants to know more about you, it can be merely a puzzle. Here are some of the things that leave you vulnerable to doxing, let’s think for a second for instance at forum posts, because nowadays the overwhelming majority of doxxing cases start with comments posted on forums. Cloaked and concealed by nicknames, people feel braver and reckless, and they can throw allegations around or really speak their minds. And that can turn into a dangerous game, even when you thought a throwaway account would be enough to keep you safe.

Essentially, for the safety’s sake you should be aware of what kind of information you are sharing and where it is in general and guard your privacy by limiting the amount of data you share. The one specific piece of technical advice experts always give is the following : don’t use the same username across multiple platforms. That is how a lot of people get stolen of their private data and therefore get “doxxed” (where doxxing is finding out and sharing the real name of someone and sharing it). They use a username in a place where someone can figure out their real name or phone number, and then use the same username on a site where they are trying to be anonymous…Secondly you should beware also your social media posts. Social media has in fact always been one of doxxers’ favorite playgrounds.

Again, if you’re an active social media poster, you often tend to disclose more personal information than you imagine. Your pictures, check-ins, and opinions are all breadcrumbs that can lead people with mischievous intent right back to you. And sometimes, people you don’t even know can take your pictures and post them on social media. For example, a doxxer with some tech knowledge or background can trick you into getting some malicious code on your device and then use it to track your IP. It’s not immediately intuitive but basically you’re your IP is the exact digital equivalent of your ID card, and it reveals a lot of details about you: just to name a few, your country, your geographic area, your zip code, and even your location. Moreover, you should avoid oversharing at all because as tempting as it might be, it’s  better bet don’t turn your social media accounts into detailed reports of your daily life or your holidays. Once they’re online, it’s safe to assume you’ll never really be able to take them down anymore. Use all the privacy settings available to you and restrict access to your information and feed as much as possible. For instance, see what information you are publicly sharing. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube all have privacy guides to determine what information you’re sharing and who can see it.

If you listed family members, employers, or colleagues on your social media profiles, be sure to set them to “Friends Only” or remove them entirely. Internet unfortunately is not a safe place and that’s the reason why you should be especially cautious of everyone. In short: be wary of “kind strangers,” make sure you use strong and counter-intuitive passwords for your accounts, and that you change them regularly.

What’s more, double-check the platforms where you log in with your social media accounts. They could automatically populate your profile with lots of details you’d like to keep private, like your full name, picture, email address, and date of birth. Another fore-sighted measure to adopt is not recycling your passwords. You’ve probably heard this over and over by now. But it’s such a crucial piece of advice: you need to use strong and unique passwords for each account to protect your digital privacy. Change them regularly , and you’ll be good to go. Always generate complex passwords that include letters, numbers, and symbols. The longer, the better, because you wouldn’t want your doxxer quickly guessing or brute-forcing your passwords.

Also, try to fight the convenience of registering for new websites by using buttons like “Login with Facebook” or “Login with Google”. Sure, you have one less set of credentials to add to your password manager, but the drop in security might not be worth it. Besides using strong passwords, you should also use the two-factor authentication (2FA) method, at least for your most used and essential accounts. This way, it’s harder for hackers or doxxers to gain access to your information. Knowing your password alone won’t be enough anymore to pass the authentication check.

Another effective option to take into consideration is also the use of a VPN, a tool that can significantly reduce your chances of becoming a doxxing victim. When using a VPN, your traffic goes through an encrypted tunnel, so no one can intercept your data. Your IP address is hidden and replaced with a new one, commonly shared with other users. This way, you’re just a drop in the ocean, untraceable and unnoticeable.

Alessia Lorenzon