Kaspersky, together with Endtab.org, has launched a free online course
to help users protect themselves, their friends and family members against
doxing. The course explains what doxing is, what to do to protect against it,
and how to deal with its consequences.
Many people's lives essentially
transferred to the digital world since last year, placing added importance on
keeping our digital space safe and secure. The rising need for online privacy
led to the growth of privacy-focused
products, yet many people remain confused about
what dangers the exposure of personal data may lead to. One such threat is
doxing - the act of gathering and revealing identifying information about
someone online against their will.
It is often thought that doxing
is something that happens only to vulnerable groups or people in specific
professions, such as journalists, activists, or sex workers. Yet, practice
shows that this
is not the case and people from all backgrounds
can become victims of doxing. There can be numerous reasons behind doxers'
actions - including having fun online and not appreciating the harm they
inflict, exacting justice (often mistakenly), revenge, jealousy, harassment and
even profit.
Doxing can happen once and
disrupt a person's life entirely, without them ever foreseeing it. Users are
exposed online in numerous ways that are not limited to just social media
presence. Exposure can also come from data leaks, fitness trackers, official
records, and private messages. In order to take back control of their data,
users need to develop positive digital habits and approach online activity
mindfully. The course developed by Kaspersky and EndTab.org is aimed at helping
them do that.
Split into seven short lessons,
the course lays out the basics for understanding the origins of doxing, the
goals doxers pursue, ethical aspects of this practice, how to defend against
it, and, most importantly, what to do if you or someone you know has been
doxed. The first half of the course is already available online with the
remaining lessons to be released in the following weeks.
"It's no news that we live in a
digital world, and just as in the real world, we need to develop good habits
and follow rules that will help us navigate the space safely," said Anna
Larkina, privacy expert at Kaspersky. "We are bringing our expertise in
cybersecurity and technology usage to provide users with the right knowledge
and tools to help in this aim. Of course, doxing is not something that happens
to people massively, however, we are never 100% secure from it. And sadly, our
actions cannot guarantee that someone angry on the internet or in real life
will not pick us as a victim - regardless of whether the ultimate goal is
cyberbullying, extortion, maybe for fun, or even bringing what the doxer might
see as a sense of justice. So, the best way to avoid trouble is to know what
you are dealing with - and I hope that our course will help users feel more
empowered, while experiencing less digital stress, so they can enjoy technology
worry-free.
"It is also important to know
how to not become a doxer yourself, by accident or on purpose. We need to
understanding why this practice is a dangerous one, and something that goes
against ethical standards that we as society strive to follow."
"While doxing may not be on
everyone's radar, it should be," said Adam Dodge, CEO of Endtab.org. "This is
particularly true for parents. While anyone can be a target, this is a form of
harm that shows up in cyberbullying and teen dating abuse situations. By
being informed about the dangers of doxing, we can help keep ourselves and
our children safer online."
The online course is the first
part of a series of tools that the Kaspersky team will release in an effort to
enable users to sustain and enhance their digital wellbeing. The course is
available on Education.kaspersky.com for free.
Read the Dox, steal, reveal.
Where does your personal data end up?
report to learn more about doxing and personal data sold on the darknet.