Doxxing

Doxxing is publishing someone's private details, like address, phone number or workplace, online to harass or scare them.

Doxxing: Doxxing is the act of finding and publishing a person's private information, such as home address, phone number, family details or workplace, so that others can harass or threaten them. The information is often pieced together from scattered public posts.

It can follow an online argument, a viral post or a loan app dispute. Strangers gather your profile photo, tagged locations, school or office name and share it in groups. The harassment can include calls, prank deliveries, false complaints and threats. Even small details, like a geotagged photo outside your home, may be enough to find you. Strangers need only a few small details to find a person.

Reduce what is easy to collect. Make social accounts private, remove location tags, and use different usernames for different services. If you are targeted, save screenshots, report the posts to the platform, block the accounts and file a complaint on cybercrime.gov.in. Tell family so they are not caught by surprise. Call 112 if you feel in physical danger. Taking these steps early is far easier than cleaning up after a campaign has started.

Tips

• Turn off location tags on photos you post.
• Keep social accounts private and trim old posts that show your address or workplace.
• Save evidence, report to the platform and file a complaint on cybercrime.gov.in.

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