Sometimes we share more information than we think on social media. And people with bad intentions can take advantage of this to make our lives difficult.
Doxing ( disclosure of personal data) is a practice that has gained notoriety in the digital world in recent years. It involves revealing private information about a person on the Internet with the aim of harming them. This type of harassment has evolved, taking different forms and motivations over time.
What is doxing?
The term "doxing" comes from the abbreviation "docs" (documents). It refers to the practice of publishing private information about a person online without their consent, in front of a potentially hostile audience.
The information collected is shared online, often on platforms such as social media or forums, with the aim of making the data subject’s private details public. This may include work documents, personal photos or even details about their family and social circle.
In doxing, the Internet is the medium used to disseminate private information, but it is also the primary source of data extraction.
The reasons for doxing can vary, but they generally serve two main purposes: to violate the target's privacy and to provide a means to continue the harassment by spreading the information gathered. In some cases, these purposes are simply protest tactics to expose alleged crimes or actions perceived as wrongdoing by the doxxer.
Consequences and illegality of doxing
Doxing can have serious consequences for the person involved. In addition to the violation of privacy, it can lead to harassment, intimidation, threats, and even endanger the victim's physical safety. In addition, doxing can damage the person's online reputation and have negative emotional and psychological impacts.
While doxing itself is not illegal, illegally obtaining personal information or disclosing it may violate laws designed to combat harassment, threats, and intimidation. It may also violate laws on Protection of personal data by disclosing information without the consent of the person concerned.
Finally, many online platforms prohibit doxing in their policies and may suspend the accounts of users who engage in it.
Although, as we said earlier, public social networks are often the main source of information in doxing cases, sometimes doxers go further and use other techniques to collect information:
- Username Tracking : Many people use the same username on different platforms, making it easier for doxxers to gain information about their online interests and activities.
- WHOIS lookup on domain names: When registering a web domain, the owner's information is usually publicly available via a WHOIS lookup. In some cases, it is possible to hide this information when purchasing the domain.
- Reverse lookup: Once the doxxer knows a specific piece of information (like a face or phone number) about someone, they can use reverse lookup services or tools to find a person with a photo to get more information about this person.
What to do to avoid or if you are a victim of doxing?
To protect yourself from doxing, here are some steps you can take:
- Use different usernames.
- Use several email addresses separated according to their usefulness.
- Adjust them privacy settings of your social profiles.
- Delete your social media profile that you no longer use.
- Hide WHOIS information.
- Ask for the Deleting your data from Google searches.
- Avoid disclosing certain private data.
- Configure google alerts to follow your name.
And if, despite everything, you become a victim of doxing, follow these steps:
- Report the online publication of your data to platforms.
- File a complaint to the police if you receive threats or if the information disclosed is critical.
- Take screenshot of all.
