Empowering Women Against Cyber Risks: Practical Steps to Stay Safe Online

A 5-Minute Digital Safety Tune-Up for Women: Immediately Reduce Cyber Risk 

Think of a social media profile like a home. Should the blinds be wide open for anyone to peer inside? Taking less than five minutes to adjust privacy settings is one of the simplest and most effective ways women can reduce cyber risk. 

Head to the “Privacy and Security” menu on favourite apps like Instagram, Facebook and TikTok. While options vary, the most important changes include: 

1. Set Profiles to Private. This ensures only approved followers can see posts.
2. Control Tags.
Require approval before tagged photos appear on profiles.
3. Limit Direct Messages.
Restrict messages to friends or followers only.

These adjustments create an important first layer of protection. But privacy settings alone can’t eliminate every risk. 

Decoding Digital Threats: What is Cyberbullying and Cyberstalking? 

Even with the best privacy settings, malicious behavior can sometimes slip through. The umbrella term for this is online harassment: any repeated, unwanted online contact that makes someone feel targeted, distressed, or unsafe.  

According to a United Nations global study, women with disabilities, in public roles, and those from LGBTIQ+ communities are disproportionally affected by online harassment.  

Even highly visible professionals face these risks. Nearly 73% of female journalists worldwide have experienced online violence, UNESCO reports.
 

The reality is that any woman can be a target of online harassment. Understanding the specific type is critical because it dictates how to respond. 

Often, this behavior takes the form of cyberbullying, which typically happens between peers like classmates or coworkers. The goal is usually to humiliate, isolate, or intimidate someone publicly. Think of mean-spirited comments, deliberate exclusion from group chats, or embarrassing rumors spread by people you know.  

A more sinister threat is cyberstalking, a persistent and obsessive pattern of behavior that causes fear for someone’s safety. This is a severe form of technology-facilitated abuse, not just an argument. It’s a campaign of intimidation, such as an ex-partner constantly creating new accounts to message from, tracking someone’s location via social media, or sending threats. This behavior crosses the line from merely toxic to potentially criminal. 

Knowing the difference helps clarify the appropriate next steps. While bullying might be handled through a platform’s reporting tools, the targeted nature of cyberstalking often requires a different level of response.  

The good news is women don’t ever have to face cyber threats alone.  

BOXX has designed its all-in-one Cyberboxx® Home solution to include always-on Cyberboxx® Assist services, providing access to cybersecurity experts and identity protection support. This helps women prevent and respond to digital threats quickly and limit further harm if their online safety is compromised.
 

First Response Plan: How to Document and Report Online Harassment 

When harassment occurs, responding strategically is critical. 

BOXX’s cybersecurity experts recommend four key steps: 

1. Do not respond. Avoid engaging with the attacker.
2. Screenshot everything. Capture full screenshots showing usernames, dates and context.
3. Report to the platform. Use the in-app reporting tools to flag harmful content.
4. Block the user. Once you have your evidence and have reported them, block their account. 

Documentation is essential. It creates evidence that can support platform action, professional assistance or law enforcement involvement.

This is especially important because many users believe platforms do not provide sufficient protection. Nearly 67% of social media users globally believe platforms inadequately address cyberbullying. 

The Doxxing Threat: When Personal Information Is Exposed 

Doxxing occurs when someone publishes private personal information without consent. 

This information may include a person’s home address, phone number, employer or personal photos. 

Attackers often gather information from multiple online sources to build a profile. 

Monitoring digital footprints and limiting publicly available personal information can reduce this risk. 

Cyberboxx® Assist includes protection services like identity and dark web monitoring designed to help individuals predict, prevent, respond to and recover from identity exposure and other cybercrimes like cyber extortion and bullying. 

How to Audit Digital Footprints to Stay Safe Online 

A simple self-audit can help identify exposed personal information and reduce cyber risk. 

The most powerful step in preventing cyber risk is to perform a simple self-audit to see what information a stranger can easily find.  

Start by seeing what a potential harasser sees.  

Here’s a quick audit:  

1. Google yourself. Search names in quotes like “Jane Doe”.
2. Review social media profiles. Have you listed your specific workplace, your birthday, or your hometown? Remove these details. 
3. Check your “About” sections. Remove phone numbers, addresses and workplace details and limit personal details in public profiles.

Sextortion: Understanding the Risk and Getting Help 

Sextortion is a form of cybercrime where attackers threaten to release private images to demand payment. 

These are serious cyberattacks that rely on intimidation and fear. 

If this happens: 

• Do not pay
 
• Do not engage
 
• Save evidence like screenshots 
• Report the incident to authorities 

Most importantly, reach out for help from a cybersecurity expert.

The BOXX Hackbusters® help contain cyber incidents and guide individuals through each step of a threat, helping reduce further risk and uncertainty.

Digital Deadbolt: Activating Two-Factor Authentication 

AI can crack common passwords in under a second. Two-factor authentication adds an additional layer of protection by requiring a temporary code sent to a phone or device. 

This simple step significantly reduces cyber risk. It secures accounts from hackers and helps prevent account takeovers even if passwords are compromised.

An Action Plan for a Safer Digital Life

Cybercrime, online harassment and digital identity threats have real impacts. Victims often report loss of productivity at work and lasting mental health consequences, including anxiety, stress, depression and social isolation.  

In fact, nearly 28% of victims reduce their online presence or deactivate accounts entirely. 

Making proactive steps part of digital habits helps reduce risk and empower women to take control of their digital safety. 

Simple Digital Safety Steps women can implement today: 

• Review privacy settings
 
• Activate two-factor authentication

• Document suspicious activity
 
• Know where to seek help 

If ever faced with cyber violence, organizations like STOMP Out Bullying, StopBullying.gov, ConnectSafely and The Trevor Project offer support and resources for families. 

With always-on cyber protection services included in every Cyberboxx® Home policy, women have access to prevention, monitoring and expert support to help navigate cyber risks with confidence. 

This International Women’s Day, remember that protecting women online is an important step toward securing their identity, privacy and digital futures.