How Anonymous are You?

With the rise of social media, a method called doxxing has become a popular mean for a cyberattacker to steal you identity and anything digitally connected to it. Doxxing is the process of stealing private information from an individual and publishing it publicly. So how vulnerable are you?

I'm assuming that the majority of you reading this have an account on some social media website, Let's use Facebook as an example. If your account settings are on public and anyone can see your posts, then a doxxer can attempt an account sign in and click "Forgot my Password." Most sites, like Facebook, are set up to prompt security questions that only you would know the answer to, but someone who can see your public Facebook profile can also gather some of the personal info you post on the site. Using this information, someone has a good chance to guess your security question and steal your password. 

From there, they can find the email address you link to Facebook and (let me guess) you have the same password for Facebook and your email. It doesn't end there, do you use the same email for something like a bank account? Or even worse, the same password? Now this cyber-thief has access to your credit card and your personal information like your phone number or mailing address. Just one small breach of one account on one site has leaked all of your personal information. If the attacker decides to, he can publish your information on the internet for the whole world to see. 

Do you feel safe? I'd check your passwords.