Doxxing. Doxing. Watch what you share!
Doxxing, Doxing, Doxen or also Doxxen is a common problem
Nowadays we spend a lot of time online and unconsciously reveal a lot of information about ourselves. Unbeknownst to some, social media is full of personal information, photos and often even location tags (geotags) that tell you exactly who you are and even worse where you've been. Hackers as well stalkers and blackmailers could collect and disseminate this information. At that point, you are the victim of doxxing.
What exactly is doxxing?
below doxxing or doxxen We actually understand the same thing as 'defamation and defamation', namely the search for, collection and distribution of personal information without your permission. The word comes from a technique that hackers used to use to take away someone's anonymity and to intimidate and threaten it. At the time, it was mainly about getting other hackers to snitch against governments.
Today, doxxing is mainly used by stalkers, internet bullies and online gamers. Someone can use and publish your information because they don't like you. Anyone can fall victim to this.
Why could this be a problem?
Maybe you don't realize it or don't care, but it's more dangerous than you think. Your personal information such as where you live or your telephone number is often simple. But what if something is done with it online? Think of registration on dating/porn websites, a fake profile on social media, or worse financial documents and embarrassing photos being used? Then your privacy can quickly be infringed and your reputation is simply gone without you being able to do anything about it immediately.
How can someone doxx you?
Collecting information about someone is really very simple nowadays, everyone leaves their data online. Combine that with a number of techniques, such as hacking, and you quickly arrive at a large amount of valuable personal information. Login data are often on the street and are used on all kinds of websites and often the same passwords.
Metadata can also leak your data through various techniques. An example is the data that is saved with a photo in the background. Fortunately, most social media such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter already remove this data.
Is it punishable in the Netherlands?
Doxxing often falls under 'invasion of privacy', 'defamation and slander' and sometimes also stalking. This is therefore worth reporting and we always recommend that you always do this.
How can you prevent yourself from being doxed too?
Simply pay attention to what you post and share online as always. Never just put photos online and make sure that your private address is entered as little as possible somewhere and certainly not on social media. Google your name between “your name” and see what is found, this is usually a first insight. Always check all privacy settings of your social media.
It is certainly not the case that you always need a VPN to hide your IP address, this often also costs unnecessary money. Just use a safe browser such as Brave, it has a built-in safe mode, TOR browser and can thus make sure that your own home IP address is not left public for free. This is particularly useful if you are going to fill out a form or leave a comment online somewhere.
Do you not want to be on the internet at all? Then you can have all your data deleted, this is laid down in the GDPR / AVG under 'the right to be forgotten'. Please note that this is a snapshot, everything after that will of course be included again.