(Based on the Equality Labs Anti-Doxxing Guide for Activists 3.0, 2023)

🔥 Preventive Steps: How to Protect Yourself Before a Doxx Attack

1️⃣ Lock Down Your Personal Information

• Google yourself: Identify what information is publicly available.
• Remove your data from people-search websites (opt-out via Yael Grauer’s Big-Ass Data Broker Opt-Out List or DeleteMe).
• Use **PimEyes** to check if your images are being used in facial recognition databases and opt out where possible. PimEyes is a face search engine that scans the internet for photos matching a given image. You can use it to see where your face appears online and request removals.
• Set up a secondary VOIP phone number instead of using your real number so that your personal number isn’t linked to public accounts, leaked in data breaches, or used for SIM-swapping attacks. Services like Google Voice, Burner, or MySudo can provide an alternative number for online registrations and two-factor authentication.

2️⃣ Secure Your Accounts

• Change passwords using a password manager on a monthly basis (Bitwarden, 1Password).
• Enable 2-Factor Authentication (2FA) for all critical accounts (prefer authenticator apps over SMS).
• Use encrypted email providers (ProtonMail, Tutanota).

3️⃣ Lock Down Social Media

• Before a doxxing attack: Keep personal accounts private and limit profile visibility to reduce data exposure. We recommend separating personal and professional pages/ content.
• If you’ve already been doxxed: Adjust privacy settings to minimize further damage, including hiding past posts, removing location data, and restricting who can message or tag you.
• Turn off location tracking on social platforms.
• Use a pseudonym or separate creator alias.
• Delete old social media posts that reveal personal info (e.g., hometown, workplace).

4️⃣ Protect Your Devices

• Use a VPN (Mullvad, ProtonVPN) to hide your IP address.
• Install privacy-focused browser extensions (uBlock Origin, Privacy Badger).