Online Privacy Tips: How to Reduce the Risk of Sextortion

Sextortion has become one of the essential dangers associated with the Internet. Being present online is a vital part of our everyday life, yet we are all prone to cybercriminals. They use this type of online blackmail when threatening potential victims to publish intimate photos or videos unless the victim complies with their demands.

In the following article, we gathered 10 easy-to-follow online privacy tips, which will help you reduce the risk of sextortion. For professional assistance and guidance in fighting the threat, we encourage you to contact our blackmail helpline. We are here to provide excellent measures and solutions to stop sextortion and other kinds of blackmail.

Reduce the Risk of Sextortion: 10 Online Privacy Tips

In 2024, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) released the official numbers of sextortion reports received in a span of two years between 2022 and 2023. While the center gathered 10,731 reports in 2022, the number increased to 26,718 reports in 2023. 

This data alone clarifies the growing concern behind sextortion blackmail that is happening online. Especially among teenagers, who are prone to becoming victims of such intimidation.

Take these privacy tips into consideration to reduce the risk of being targeted by sextortionists:

1. Strengthen Your Passwords & Enable 2FA

This one might sound simple. Yet, it is a great idea for starters. Changing your passwords to stronger ones, which are more difficult to break, can reassure your peace of mind. Here are a few tips on how you can strengthen them:

• Combine upper and lower case letters, numbers, and special symbols.
• Avoid using your personal data, such as names, birthdates, or pets’ names.
• Try to create unique passwords for each account; avoid reusing them across websites.
• Consider using a password manager to create and safeguard your secure passwords.

Whenever it is possible, enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA), which adds an extra layer of security to your account. Even if a hacker gets hold of your password, they will not be able to pass the second verification step (e.g. a code sent to your phone). As a result, your account should stay secure. 

2. Change Your Social Media Privacy Settings

Before you are approached by the sextortionist, they frequently utilize your social media profiles to access more private information. Your task is to lessen exposure by incorporating the following techniques:

• Set your social media profiles to private, not allowing random people to see what you share.
• Be careful whose follow requests you accept to avoid fraudulent accounts.
• Refrain from sharing private information, such as personal data, address, and phone number.
• Turn off GPS location tracking on your phone and photo tagging to keep others from knowing your location.

Keep in mind that there is a growing impact of cybercrimes on social media platforms. These issues are not limited to sextortion only, but also concern phishing, fraud, and hate speech. Switching your privacy settings on will allow you to steer clear of most of the mischievous acts.

3. Start Using Encrypted Messaging Apps

Are you still using Facebook Messenger to communicate with your peers? Was the 2018 Facebook–Cambridge Analytica data scandal not enough for you? The platform run by Meta is often considered to pose privacy threats to their users. This is a straight road to becoming a victim of social media sextortion.

Instead of relying on faulty and disreputable apps, start using encrypted messaging apps. Among the most popular ones, you can find:

• Signal
• Telegram
• WhatsApp

These messaging services rely on different technologies to ensure that your communications stay private. End-to-end encryption in such apps is especially needed when sharing private or intimate content. This technology guarantees that only you and the recipient can read the message.

Nevertheless, you should always remember that no encrypted messaging app guarantees 100% privacy. If you share your phone number online, suspicious accounts can reach you via the aforementioned programs. Overall, we suggest completely refraining from sharing any explicit content via direct messages, just to double-check your safety.

4. Cover Your Webcam and Limit Phone Camera Access

One of the most common ways sextortionists refer to when practicing their crimes is through the use of webcams and phone cameras. Look, even Mark Zuckerberg tapes his webcam, so it must be a real issue, right? Thus, you should do that too.

There are three verified ways to protect your cameras from unsolicited access:

• Cover your laptop’s webcam with adhesive tape or other dedicated covers.
• Check app permission on your smartphone to block unwanted camera and microphone access.
• Stay cautious while opening dubious files or links, since malware can allow remote camera control.

Securing your cameras is not difficult. All you need is $1, as this this the medium price for a comfortable webcam cover slide. A small investment that pays off, really.

5. Know How to Fight Sextortion

Sometimes even the best precautions can fail to completely safeguard you from sextortion. That is why the ultimate online privacy tip refers to gaining knowledge on fighting this crime. You need to know how to respond if you are targeted by a cyberbully:

1. Seize all communication with the sextortionist, and refer from following their demands.
2. Do not click on any links, and do not download any files sent to you.
3. Gather proof of the blackmail attempt by taking screenshots of messages and threats.
4. Call a professional sextortion online helpline to receive specialized assistance.
5. Report blackmail on the right platform, and proceed with reporting the crime to local authorities.

Understanding how to stop cybercriminals will allow you to take preventive measures as soon as you are targeted. What is more, you should also educate your family members and friends on this issue, to help them deal with the seriousness of this cybercrime.

Reduce the Risk of Sextortion Now!

As we are observing an increase in online sextortion schemes, safeguarding your privacy on the Internet is more crucial than ever. Improve your security settings, stay careful when publishing content, and learn about potential cyberthreats. This way you may radically reduce the risk of sextortion.

Always remember that prevention is the best kind of defense. That is why you should exercise caution before sharing anything on your social media, keep an eye out for who you talk to, and safeguard all your personal data. Take your own safety seriously, as it is vital to a healthy presence on the Internet.