Doxxing: A Toxic Form of Digital Revenge
Since the early 1990s, doxxing has been used as a toxic form of digital revenge, stripping individuals of their anonymity by revealing their identity online. This malicious practice has seen a resurgence in recent years, with people being doxxed and extorted for cryptocurrency, and in extreme cases, facing physical violence.
The Profitable World of Doxing
Security researcher Jacob Larsen has been monitoring doxing groups and observing the techniques used to reveal people’s identities. According to Larsen, doxxing practices generate significant revenue, with methods including filing false law enforcement requests to obtain people’s data. Larson’s research focuses on for-profit doxing practices, with sites like Doxbin hosting thousands of public and private doxings, often driven by extortion campaigns.
The Harms of Doxxing
People can be doxxed for various reasons, from online harassment to inciting political violence. Digital criminologist Bree Anderson notes that doxxing can humiliate, harm, and reduce the information autonomy of targeted individuals. There are immediate risks to personal safety and long-term anxieties about future revelations. Doxing not only violates privacy but can also lead to physical harm and psychological distress.
Protecting Yourself Online
It’s essential to maintain your privacy online to protect yourself from being doxxed. However, staying completely anonymous online is nearly impossible, as doxing tactics continue to evolve. From reusing common passwords to accessing public and private databases, doxxers employ various methods to collect personal information. Additionally, the abuse of Emergency Data Requests (EDRs) further exposes individuals to privacy risks.
