Doxing, also known as “document tracing,” is a form of online harassment that has become increasingly common in recent years. It involves locating and publicizing private or identifying information about an individual through searching public records and social media websites. The primary goal of doxing is to shame, humiliate, or intimidate someone, and the potential consequences can be severe. In this article, we will discuss what doxing someone means, the methods used to dox someone, and how to protect yourself from becoming a victim of doxing. Whether you are a potential target or a concerned witness, it is essential to understand the risks associated with doxing and the steps you can take to help prevent it from happening.
What Does Doxing Someone Mean?
Doxing is a form of online harassment that involves researching and then releasing someone’s personal information, such as an address, phone number, workplace, and family information. It is usually done with malicious intent, usually to humiliate or threaten the person.
What Are The Methods Used For Doxing?
- Searching public records: This involves searching through public databases such as property records, court documents, voter registration records, and even social media profiles.
- Social engineering: This involves gathering information from the target’s friends, family members, or colleagues. It can also involve impersonating the target on social media to access their private information.
- Data mining: This involves using software programs to search for and collect data from various sources such as websites, chat rooms, and forums.
- Phishing: This involves sending emails or messages that appear to be from a trusted source to gain access to private information.
- Posting personal information online: Once boxers have gathered personal information about their target, they may post it online for the world to see. This includes home addresses, phone numbers, and other sensitive information.
- Threats and intimidation: Boxers may also use threats and intimidation to force their target to comply with their demands. This can include threatening to post personal information online or sending messages that contain violent or sexual content.
How To Protect Yourself From Doxing
- Be aware of what you post online: The best way to protect yourself from doxing is to be mindful of what you post online. Make sure that you are not sharing any personal information, such as your address or phone number, on social media or other public websites. Additionally, be aware of the privacy settings for each website and adjust them accordingly.
- Limit search engine visibility: Make sure that your name does not appear in search engine results by limiting the amount of personal information that is publicly available. This can be done by removing any personal information from social media profiles and setting up a Google alert to monitor any changes in your online presence.
- Utilize strong passwords: Use strong passwords for all accounts and change them regularly to make it more difficult for hackers to access your private information. It is also important to use two-factor authentication whenever possible, as this adds an extra layer of security.
- Reach out for help: If you believe you are targeted by doxing, you must contact a trusted source for help. This could be a friend or family member or even a professional such as an attorney or law enforcement officer. There are also organizations and resources available to help victims of doxing.
Who Is At Risk Of Doxing?
- Anyone online: Doxing is not limited to any group or type of person. Anyone who has shared personal information online, such as name, address, email address, phone number, photos, or any other identifying details, runs the risk of being doxed. This includes people who are active on social media and those who are not.
- Journalists and activists: Journalists and activists who report on controversial topics or voice unpopular opinions may be especially vulnerable to doxing because their work often attracts attention from those who disagree.
- Victims of cyberbullying: Cyberbullying victims often become doxing targets because they have already been exposed to harassment online and may have already revealed personal information that can be used against them.
- Political figures: Politicians, celebrities, and other public figures may be doxed as a way to discredit them or disrupt their work.
- Private citizens: Private citizens who are not in the public eye may also be subject to doxing if they have shared personal information online or if their information is available in public records.
How To Protect Yourself From Doxing?
- Use strong passwords: Use upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols when creating account passwords.
- Limit the amount of personal information you share online: Be cautious about the type of information you post on social media sites and other websites.
- Set your privacy settings: Review your privacy settings on all social media accounts and other websites to ensure that only people you trust can access your content.
- Monitor your online presence: Regularly search for yourself online to see what information is publicly available about you and take steps to remove or restrict access if necessary.
- Be aware of phishing attacks: Be wary of any emails or messages that ask for personal information or log-in credentials, as these may be attempts to gain access to your accounts and dox you.
What To Do If You Are A Victim Of Doxing?
- Immediately contact the authorities if you are the victim of a crime, such as doxing.
- Contact your internet service provider and ask them to remove any links to your personal information from online search engines.
- Use a pseudonym when interacting with people online, and be aware of who is tracking your online activity.
- Keep all documentation of the doxing incident, including emails, social media posts, and logs of online searches, in case you need to provide them to the authorities.
How To Report Doxing?
- If you are the victim of doxing, please immediately contact your local police department or the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to report the crime.
- If you are a witness to doxing, please take screenshots and record any relevant information about the doxing incident.
- If you are concerned that someone is doxing someone else, please contact that person’s online security provider or social media platform to report the incident.
- If you are the victim of doxing and do not feel comfortable reporting the crime to law enforcement or social media platforms, please contact the National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA) at ncsa@ncsenet.org for assistance.
Conclusion
Doxing is a form of online harassment that is becoming increasingly common. It involves locating and publicizing private or identifying information about an individual, often to shame, humiliate, or intimidate them. It is essential to understand the risks associated with doxing and the methods used to dox people to protect yourself from becoming a victim. In addition, it is essential to be mindful of the ethical considerations of doxing and the potential consequences before engaging in this online activity.
