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.