Doxing (also known as doxxing – a term inspired by the word documents), is commonly a first-stage tactic mobs of people (and individuals) use to intimidate and scare people by digging up personal information across the web. It’s best described as a form of digital stalking where one person researches personally identifiable information about another and then broadcasts the information across the web. Doxers don’t need to be private investigators. In most cases the tools of the trade include Google, social networking sites, reverse phone number queries, and domain WHOIS searches.
It’s one of the most brutal types of identity theft and harassment on the web, yet it’s also one of the simplest to perform.
Before we go on, let’s briefly touch on those different avenues and how they contribute to the threat:
- WHOIS information: The information you use to register a domain name. It originally started out in the early days of the web as a way for webmasters to contact each other. Today however, it’s one of the first ways people are able to find addresses and phone numbers.
- Social Networks: If you’ve ever posted photos of where you lived, addresses, or general sensitive information online - these can all be used against you in a doxing attack.
- Third-party brokers: These databases typically contain information from courts, driving records, voter registrations, census statistics, utility companies, and more.
Doxing isn’t just a threat for celebrities and people in the public domain. Hactivism group Anonymous has been in the news quite a few times for releasing information on law enforcement agents, KKK members, and other people who didn’t necessarily agree with the mob’s views.
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