Resurgence of Doxxing: A Toxic Digital Revenge
Since the early 1990s, doxxing has been utilized as a malicious way to strip individuals of their anonymity by exposing their identities online. However, in recent years, this harmful practice has experienced a resurgence, with individuals falling victim to doxxing and extortion for cryptocurrency, and in some extreme cases, facing physical violence.
Financial Motivations Behind Doxxing
Security researcher Jacob Larsen, who has been monitoring doxxing groups for the past year, highlights the financial aspect of doxxing, particularly in cases of physical extortion. Larsen’s research reveals that doxxing practices can generate significant revenue, with methods such as filing false law enforcement requests to access individuals’ data.
The Dark World of Doxing: Methods and Consequences
People can fall victim to doxxing for various reasons, from online harassment in gaming communities to incitement of political violence. The targeted individuals often face humiliation, harm, and a loss of information autonomy, leading to immediate risks to personal safety and long-term anxiety about future revelations.
Doxxing techniques range from accessing public and private databases to launching SIM swapping attacks through social engineering. Additionally, the abuse of Emergency Data Requests (EDRs) allows law enforcement officials to obtain individuals’ personal information without a court order, posing a threat to individuals’ safety and privacy.
