How to dig up dirt about yourself online
You know by now you should keep the private things in life off the internet. Your middle name, job, city, pet’s name, the school you went to, your spouse’s name, the ages of your kids, your shoe size — the details a scammer or hacker would love to have.
A popular new TikTokker is proving most of us are a lot worse at this than we assumed. Let’s take a closer look at “consensual doxxing” and how you can dig up everything out there online about yourself.
She has it down to an art
TikTokker Kristen Sotakoun has become an overnight viral sensation, going from 30 followers to 1.1 million, for what she calls “consensual doxxing.” In her first viral video, Kristen unearthed a guy’s identity from a cartoon avatar and a pair of glasses.
In another, she used only a TikTok business username to track down its owner, winding her way from a car forum to a 2014 blog to online records of his journey to donate an organ. (She found the actual paperwork!)
Think your accounts are locked up like Fort Knox? Nope.
Kristen says she’s cracked about 70% to 80% of her “cases,” and all she’s using are the social media crumbs people leave behind — no deep dives into public records or sketchy databases.
If she can do it, anyone can. I’ll show you some tricks of the trade.
Hit the basics
Google is the easiest place to begin your search. Enter your full name in quotation marks, like “Bobby Smith.” There are plenty of Bobby Smiths out there, so you’ll want to narrow your search using other information, such as what city you live in.
Check social media
Do this from your browser in incognito mode or log out of your accounts to see what others might find. Remember, though, many people don’t use their real names online. If you find one of your online aliases in your Google search, know that others will, too — and might pop that into Instagram, Pinterest or another site.
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Free, fast test to see how much private info your browser is leaking
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They may even see the computer you’re operating on — including your battery life. Some can even see what social media websites you’re logged in to. Tap or click here to increase social media privacy.
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While you can’t have guaranteed privacy, you can take some steps to reduce your digital footprint. Depending on your browser, you have some power to opt out of third-party cookies and other tracking tools. There’s also an online tool that lets you opt out of many advertising and marketing companies in a few easy steps. Tap or click here for more information.
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