inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta. In this digital era, technology-based crime is proliferating. Therefore, National Police friends need to maintain their safety and their loved ones in cyberspace, starting from yourself. One of them is from a crime mode called Doxxing. Have you guys known what Doxxing is? Let us find out together! Doxxing, also commonly known as doxxing, is the dismantling or disseminating someone's personal information carried out by unauthorized persons or without the permission of the parties concerned. Quoted from The Conversation USA, the word Doxxing comes from a reasonably old internet term, namely from the idea of collecting documents or "docs" on someone. From that word, the term Doxxing was created and is known to this day. Before doing this, usually, someone will collect the targeted person's personal information through various platforms. A person's data can be searched and collected through various means, such as retrieving publicly available information, researching public records, or making unauthorized access to private databases and computer systems, also known as hacking. Efforts to find and disclose personal information must have existed before the digital age or the internet. However, the existence of the internet has undoubtedly made it more accessible. In addition, the development of the internet has given rise to many new digital-based media and applications. These media and applications will also accommodate your data, both data required by an account or data that you consciously share through the medium. An easy example is social media. Before creating social media, you will be asked to fill in various data as an account database. Friend of the National Police will also upload content on social media that alludes to personal data, such as daily activities, family and relatives, documents, complaints, and others. Unbeknownst to you, National Police's data has been spread on the internet, both important and unimportant. Increasingly sophisticated internet technology and comprehensive and easily accessible access make it easier for someone to search, collect, and disseminate other people's data through the internet. With these conditions, coupled with a large amount of data on the internet, it is not surprising that many Doxxing incidents have occurred. Quoted from the eSafety Commissioner page, during the COVID-19 pandemic, thousands of email addresses and passwords for employees of the World Health Organization (WHO), the Gates Foundation, and other institutions involved in public health responses have been posted on the internet. Not only health institutions but information on COVID-19 patients is also disseminated on the internet. Almost all Doxxing is done for negative motives. Some do so to intimidate and silence the target party. This is done to prove a point or to discredit someone's work. Several other parties carry out Doxxing as a criminal activity, one of which is online fraud. Another reason people Doxxing have is to embarrass the target party. This is done by disseminating confidential information, pictures, or videos of the intended person. On the other hand, Doxxing can also show the public wrong actions or violations committed by someone. The impact of Doxxing on the victim The points above show how dangerous Doxxing is to the victim. Therefore, Doxxing cannot be underestimated because of its harmful effects. The following are some of the impacts that victims can experience: 1. Public shame and public humiliation; 2. Get discriminated against. This can happen if his characteristics are revealed; 3. Experiencing cyberstalking and physical stalking; 4. Experiencing identity theft and financial fraud; 5. Damage to personal and professional reputation. Gradually, this will lead to social and financial losses; 6. Increased anxiety; 7. Decreased confidence and self-esteem. Well, pals, the following are preventive steps that you should take for the safety of yourself and those closest to you; 1. Make social media accounts private; 2. Deleting unused social media accounts; 3. Not uploading personal information to social media; 4. Do not use location features in photos and accounts; 5. Deleting personal documents that have already been uploaded; 6. Check for suspicious applications regularly; 7. Change gadget passwords and social media accounts regularly. The internet and the digital world, especially social media, are places to express ourselves. However, there is nothing wrong if you take precautions to avoid Doxxing. Because protecting personal information is more than just securing data, it also protects against further digital attacks. Hopefully helpful and use social media as well as possible.