Last month, this toddler spam invited me to a BF2 party. Though it’s thoughtless, I joined. He inherently began trash talking, “Oh, you are in XYZ, and on range? Watch my video.”
If I had not quit the party, he’d probably have doxxed me and done anything with the information. Anyway, I instantly reported him on Xbox.
Xbox has developed over time to become a social gaming experience. You can enjoy audio chats, watch videos, and consume various other content.
There are rogue Xbox players who crave nuisance. Like most social media platforms and gaming applications, Xbox users (players) can easily get doxxed.
Secure Your Account
Every application on Xbox downloaded from the Microsoft Store requests permission to access your console data. You can control how Microsoft uses this data.
Troy Hunt, a security specialist at Have I Been Pwned? reported a September 2015 Xbox hack that affected the Xbox 360 and PSP ISOs. These consoles host download files. You can imagine what data breaches can cost gamers.
Here are additional ways you can undertake to avoid getting doxxed on Xbox.
1. Use a secure email address
If you used an email address other than the Microsoft-provided one, you should update it. This way, your account cannot be easily compromised. Also, refrain from using your corporate or burner email addresses.
2. Secure your saved profile on consoles
You can secure your profile by changing your password only with Xbox One or Xbox Series X|S consoles. For Xbox 360, you can remove your profile on all the consoles that saved your password.Below are the steps to follow;
Sign in to your Xbox account at xbox.com. Select Gamertag>Xbox profile>Privacy settings>XboxSettings>Xbox 360 profile protection>Require profile Download
By so doing, you minimize the chances of doxxers finding loopholes to dox you. After all, most of the doxxing occur out of our recklessness.
An ESET IT security expert shares his opinion concerning passwords and websites, "Often people using seemingly low-security websites don't enforce good password security because it's not a financial target. But all data has a value and will be reused for other purposes. Every website should be treated as unique and require different passwords with a mix of usernames if possible."
3. Add additional security information to your Xbox Microsoft account
It would be wise to provide Microsoft with your alternative contact addresses. Submit another email address and phone number. You will always rest assured of getting informed of any account changes.
You have the option to choose the address where changes are sent. If you wish to add the details right now, do it here.
4. Update your gaming gadget and browser
Updated real-time security features of web, desktop, and mobile applications are a must-have for your online (even offline) security. Doxxers exploit your vulnerabilities to access and use these tools for malice. To ensure up-to-date security fixes, visit the OS website and follow instructions.
For Windows, do it here. And for Mac, follow these steps.
5. Install Security tools
It is pretty weird to go online, surf, interact and play games without installing or updating security tools when it’s due. What are the doxxers' tools of the trade? Devices and websites without these tools or add ons make the ideal environments for the attackers to camp.
Hackers and doxxers can be anybody; neighbor, friend, soulmate, name them. Cybersecurity keenness does not necessarily require rocket science to observe. For example, a doxxer can get control of your Xbox console account with a click-of-a-button in malware and steal your credentials.
Many reviewers have recommended Bitdefender as the best tool for gamers. You can check it.
6. Always turn on your browser phishing filters
Your browser can detect phishing websites when it has filters. It will not allow you to download and install malicious software applications on your device. The browser will always alert you of spammy websites and web pages.
Attacks are launched through spamware and malware. Be sure not to become an easy target.
7. Create awareness within your circle (family, friends)
Microsoft accounts, products, and services are recommendable and lucrative. A potential doxxer may take this advantage to lure and entice your family or fellow gamers with it.
Can you imagine getting an Xbox Live Gold for free? Unfortunately, this and other lies may get your email and password stolen and misused. Passwords can have flaws, just like 5-year-old tech-savvy Kristofer discovered.
Note: If already signed in to an account, Microsoft will never prompt you to key in your password to win a promotion.
8. Use 2FA for sign-in on another device
You can remove your password and sign in to your Microsoft Xbox account on another gadget. Then, it becomes difficult for a doxxer to access your account even if they have your password.
With two-step authentication on, you receive a security code to your email address or phone number or an authenticator application whenever you/you’re signed in on an untrusted device. When 2FA is off, you will periodically use security codes whenever a potential account security breach is detected.
For more information about “Signed in somewhere” alerts, visit Xbox support.
9. Check your Xbox account for Fishy Activity
Upon signing in, make sure you review your account's recent activities. Select the This wasn’t me option in case of any suspicious activity. Xbox support correspondent will change your password. But if you changed immediately after noticing peculiar access, you can proceed.
- Go to Security>Sign-in activity>View my activity.
- Verify your identity with a security code. Your information is sensitive. Select the Protect your account option and choose how you’d like to receive the security code. Select the Send code option
- The screen displays the Enter code where you enter the code sent to you.
- You can then review account activity for any fishy actions. In case of any, consider changing your password instantly.
Wrapping up
Doxxing on Xbox is equally as easy as avoiding the risk. Gamers are on the rise daily. But, unfortunately, not everyone has good intentions on the internet. Others want to test their hacking capabilities, while others want to exploit your reckless potential.
Always remember to use secure email addresses for your Xbox account log-ins. Make sure your profile is protected on all your open consoles. Do not let any genuinely ( others may be spammy) available update pass you. But beware of enticement. There’s no “free lunch.”
It may be game over for your confidential information.
To report a suspicious individual, prompt the Xbox controller to access the guide. You will find them in “People.” Select by clicking them, and then choose a label to either Block or Report.
FAQs
Is there a way to avoid being doxxed? ›
The key to preventing doxxing is to minimize the information available about you online. Learn how to hide your IP address, secure your social media accounts, and stay anonymous online.
Can a VPN stop a dox? ›Protect Your Privacy with a VPN
A VPN makes it impossible for someone to use your IP address to find you, which greatly reduces your chances of becoming a doxxing victim. A VPN encrypts your connection and sends it through a secure server before you connect to the public internet.
For the average player who doesn't livestream their gameplay, private info may still be doxed from Xbox profiles, messages, activity feed posts, or clubs. Important It's never okay to share out the private info of other players without their consent.
How easy is it to get doxxed? ›Anyone on the internet can easily be doxxed. One reason is that identity theft is now harder to undertake than before, so the next malicious act down from this is doxxing. As we mentioned earlier, you don't have to be a public figure to be a victim of doxxing.
How can I tell if Im being doxxed? ›To see if you've been doxxed, search your name on a search engine like Google and popular social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to see what comes up. Should you see a collection of your personal information, you may be the victim of a doxxing attack.
Should I be scared of doxxing? ›By itself, being doxxed can be dangerous, as it may reveal information about you that could harm you if it were publicly known. More often it is used to escalate to greater harm such as mass online harassment, in-person violence, or targeting other members of your community.
Can you sue for being doxxed? ›Yes, you can sue someone for doxing you if they post your personal or private information or data online. This is where a civil lawsuit comes in.
Can police still track you with a VPN? ›Police can't track live, encrypted VPN traffic, but if they have a court order, they can go to your ISP (Internet Service Provider) and request connection or usage logs. Since your ISP knows you're using a VPN, they can direct the police to them.
How common is doxxing? ›21% of Americans (more than 43 million individuals) report having personally experienced doxxing. An even greater number, 62%, personally knew someone who had been the victim of a doxxing attack.
How do I protect my IP address on Xbox? ›Use a virtual private network (VPN). This is a service that encrypts your internet traffic and protects your online identity.
Why do I keep getting doxxed? ›
Nowadays, doxxing is mostly employed by cyberbullies and online gamers. Someone might end up revealing personal information about you or your family members because they didn't like the content you posted on social media or forums, or because they disliked you after you beat them at an online game.
How long do you go to jail for doxxing? ›Penalties for Doxing in California
Individuals arrested and charged with cyber harassment (doxing) under Penal Code §653.2 face up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $1,000. The charge is a misdemeanor charge. A criminal defense lawyer may negotiate a plea agreement for probation instead of jail time.
Criminal Laws Against Doxxing
If the doxxer is making a credible threat of harm to you or your family, you should go to the police and ask that they take action. Depending on the circumstances, the prosecutor may be able to charge the doxxer with the crime of stalking, harassing, revenge porn, or cyberbullying.
The lowest amount ($40) will get a person's name, date of birth, phone number, and address. For $80, the Dox will include all of that information, plus a bit more.
How serious is doxxing? ›Doxxing isn't a fad that is likely to burn out soon. It invokes serious intimidation, harassment and threats against journalists that could interfere with their reporting, place them in real danger and, ultimately, drive them from the work they love.
What does doxxing look like? ›The Cyberbullying Research Center said that today, doxing — which can also be spelled "doxxing" — typically involves someone collecting the private personal information of victims, everything from home addresses and Social Security numbers to credit card numbers or bank account information, and then disseminating this ...
Is doxxing a crime Us? ›Is doxxing illegal? The legality of doxxing depends on the means of obtaining the information and the result of the doxxing attack. Doxxing laws in the US may define doxxing as a crime if the data was illegally obtained or if the doxxing attack is linked to cyberbullying or harassment.
What happens when you get doxxed? ›Doxxing is a type of cyber attack that involves discovering the real identity of an Internet user. The attacker then reveals that person's details so others can target them with malicious attacks. Doxxing is analyzing information posted online by the victim in order to identify and later harass that person.
What is doxing for kids? ›Being doxxed is a form of cyberbullying. The information can be the victim's real name, home address, phone number, email address, photos or other personal information.
Is it Dox or Doxx? ›The only correct spellings are "doxx", "doxxed", "doxxing", "doxxes" because that upsets Richard Stallman & the trolls.
Is saying someone's first name doxing? ›
Doxxing is getting information about a specific person or organization. This information can be full name, exact location, IP address, phone number, height, family members, work place, etc.
How do I hide my IP address from the police? ›- #1. ...
- Use a proxy to hide your IP address. ...
- Use Tor to hide your IP address for free. ...
- Connect to a different network to change your IP address. ...
- Ask your ISP to change your IP address. ...
- Unplug your modem to change your IP address. ...
- Use a NAT Firewall to hide your private IP address.
Typical web browsers reveal their unique IP (Internet Protocol) address, making them traceable by law enforcement. But a dark web browser issues a false IP address, using a series of relays, to mask the user's identity. A significant portion of dark web activity is lawful.
How is IP address tracked? ›In internet parlance, this is generally described as “shaking hands.” Your IP address needs to let the device at the other IP address know where to send the information that's being requested. That hand shake is how IP addresses are tracked.
How many people get doxxed a year? ›According to at least one estimate, over three million people are stalked over the internet each year, yet only about three are charged under the Interstate Stalking Statute. Accordingly, "[t]his lack of federal enforcement means that the States must step in if doxing is to be reduced".
How do I legally protect my IP? ›The best way to protect IP is to register it with the government and enforce your ownership rights. Beyond registration and enforcement, you can protect certain types of intellectual property by: Documenting your discoveries. Using digital rights management.
Can I put a VPN on Xbox? ›Directly – no, you can't install a VPN on your Xbox One. But you can connect your Xbox to a VPN-protected Wi-Fi router, computer, or a mobile hotspot (or any other sort of internet sharing device that allows VPN protection).
What is the best IP address for Xbox? ›...
Among the free servers, the best results were:
- 1.1. 1.1 (Cloudflare)
- 208.67. 220.220 (OpenDNS)
- 8.8. 4.4. (GoogleDNS secondary server)
Doxing Under Federal Law
18 U.S. Code § 2261A makes it illegal for an individual to use an “interactive computer service or electronic communication service” to harass, intimidate, or surveil another person and cause them to suffer emotional distress or fear for their safety.