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DOXING: WHAT IT IS AND WHAT YOU CAN DO TO INSURE YOUR SAFETY ONLINEā thread:
*Disclaimer: I am by no means an expert, all information and tips are based solely on articles and personal experience. I am mainly focused on doxxing via Twitter but will also include links to guides about doxing on other sites as well*
Doxing is a cyber attackĀ that involves discovering the real identity of another user. The attacker then reveals that personās details so others can target them with malicious attacks. Itās analyzing information posted online by the victim in order to identify & later harass them
Be careful of how much personal info you give on forums, message boards, & SNS. Doxxers can accumulate these messages to pinpoint things about your identity such as your current country or even city.
Donāt enable location. Use a VPN/Proxy. VPN is short for Virtual Private Network, & acts as a filter for Internet traffic. A proxy serverĀ is a bit different than a VPN, but works on roughly the same principles. It doesnāt encrypt your data as a VPN does though.
Donāt use the Login with Facebook/Google buttons. These login methods register you on the website by using the email you used to create your FB or Google account. You will automatically give the site infoĀ attached to your FB/Google account, such as current city, job, etc.
Donāt use your personal email. Donāt link accounts with your personal info like your FB or LinkedIn to your Twitter. Have a long, strong, & unique password. Use a password manager.
Use two-factor authentication, & set it up when possible with a security key or an authentication app rather than your phone number. Donāt cross post any content especially between Twitter and sites where you have your personal info. Be cautious of links sent to you.
Take an in-depth look at otherās accounts before following them or letting them follow you. Check every account & soft block or block if you feel suspicious.
Remove yourself from data broker sites like http://www.peoplefinder.com Ā or http://www.whitepages.com . Most of these companies offer a way for you to opt-out & remove any info they have about you but will likely be difficult or time-consuming.
You can use services like DeleteMe ( https://joindeleteme.com ) which will do this for you. Remove content from Google about yourself ( https://support.google.com/legal/troubleshooter/1114905).
When you encounter doxxing accounts limit your interactions to as few as possible. Do not frequent their profile. Do not reply to or @ them or quote retweet them. Do not like, reply to, or retweet/qrt tweets they are tagged in. Report their tweets & account, then block.
If blocking is not possible then considering going private & monitor the situation or have a trusted friend monitor it for you. If they account follows you then soft block and go private.
To report tweets or accounts that have already published or threatened to publish private information you can do so through the site or on their forum ( https://help.twitter.com/forms/private_information)
If the account doesnāt violate the private information policy other choice options under āIts abusive or harmfulā that may apply are āItās disrespectful or offensiveā āIncludes targeted harassmentā or āIt directs hate against a protected categoryā
https://help.twitter.com/forms/abusiveuser
https://help.twitter.com/forms/abusiveuser
More on how to protect yourself against doxing: https://www.google.com/amp/s/heimdalsecurity.com/blog/doxxing/amp/
Guide by Microsoft on how to limit the amount of metadata:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/remove-hidden-data-and-personal-information-by-inspecting-documents-presentations-or-workbooks-356b7b5d-77af-44fe-a07f-9aa4d085966f?ui=en-us&rs=en-us&ad=us
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/remove-hidden-data-and-personal-information-by-inspecting-documents-presentations-or-workbooks-356b7b5d-77af-44fe-a07f-9aa4d085966f?ui=en-us&rs=en-us&ad=us
