Staying Low Profile

An example - you are a member of a website for a sub culture that is not well liked or understood

Since there are people out there who might dislike, or object to that group - those people may then try and "out" those individuals.

This could potentially lead to families disowning children, people losing their jobs, etc.

So what do you do to avoid your RealName being associated with this OnlineIdentity?

Tips

The below applies whether the community or site is behind a login or not, you never know who might have a login to the site for malicious reasons.

  1. Username - do not use the same, or similar, username as you use on ANY OTHER SITE. Also do not use any part of your real name.
    1. i.e. MaryBeth2 is not great.
  2. Email - many email services provide free email, get a new email account specifically for this online identity. The email should not use a username the same as or similar to any of your other online usernames or emails.
    1. When signing up for this email don't use your real name either! many sites associate your name with your email when sending or indexing.
    2. Don't use a friend or family member's name either, go to a baby name generator and just make a new name!
  3. Cell Number - use a service like google voice or other to get a fake cell phone number that forwards to an app or your land line number.
  4. Required signup data - Even if the field is required, don't provide identifying information
    1. i.e. make up a birthday, choose a location at random. If the information won't affect your usage of the site don't input it. make something up.
  5. Profile - do not post any links or identifying information
    1. Profile: don't tell them your name, location, facebook profile link, etc.
  6. Photographs
    1. Do not post pictures of yourself, family, friends, pets. This includes any pictures of faces, tattoos, or other items that are unique to you (scars). Reverse image search technology has gotten amazing and you don't want that to lead to your outing.
  7. Posts / Comments - Do not, in communications on said site, link to any of your other information.
    1. Do not link to anything from your RealName (Facebook, linkedin, email you use not for that site) or give your real name
  8. Secure web browsing never hurts!
    1. Always connect using HTTPS (the gold lock)
    2. Consider using "anonymous" or "incognito" mode in your web browser so cookie information (information sites remember about your on your local pc) does not leak.
    3. Consider purchasing and using a VPN service like PureVPN to make your web traffic appear as if it were coming from somewhere else.

Links / Resources

How would someone use my username against me?

Someone has your age, gender and handle from your profile.

If you live in a small area, it gets easier (but it is still possible in larger areas).

Many people use the same nickname/handle/username across multiple social media services to make us easier to find, or by habit.

So while a 32F AmazonV is less likely to be identified in a large city like Philadelphia, here in Blacksburg Virginia it is relatively easy.

Specific if you want to stay under the radar (stalked etc)

    • Use a consistent fake name, username, email, birthday, etc.
      • Go full scale and keep it consistent and believable (fb reporting)
      • Name, birthday, NOT YOUR OWN or similar
      • A specific free email account that matches this Identity and only gets used for this!
    • Don’t reuse ANY images (see tineye reverse image search)
    • Avoid identifying items (face, tattoo, distinctive vista, furniture, art)
  • Use incognito / anonymous browsing mode and never share / cross data between your fake identity and real identity accounts.