Cybersecurity and Women: Protecting Yourself from Unique Online Threats

Cybersecurity and privacy issues affects us in profound ways in our personal lives. Women, in particular, face unique challenges when it comes to online safety. Cyberstalking, image-based abuse, and gendered violence facilitated by technology are just some of the threats disproportionately affecting women, and statistics back up these trends.

In this guide, we’ll go over some of this and explain the unique cybersecurity threats faced by women, why these issues are particularly gendered, and how to protect yourself.

1. Cyberstalking and Online Harassment

Women are disproportionately targeted by online harassment, especially younger women. According to a Pew Research Center study, 33% of women under 35 have experienced sexual harassment online and 16% of women overall report being sexually harassed online, compared to 5% of men. Cyberstalking, unwanted messages, and threats often take on misogynistic overtones, with women facing more severe abuse than men in similar situations.

Why Women Are More Impacted:

Societal norms and gender biases often make women more vulnerable to gender-based violence, both online and offline. Misogyny in internet subcultures also contributes to higher rates of harassment targeting women. The anonymity of the internet allows abusers to act without immediate consequences, emboldening them to harass women more often than men.

What You Can Do:

• Gender Neutral Usernames: Consider engaging in social media and sites with gender neutral usernames. While I wish this wasn't something you should have to consider, and it's not your fault that this harassment is happening, the practical impact of having a gender-neutral username may reduce unwanted harassment and messaging.

• Privacy Settings: Regularly review and adjust privacy settings on social media platforms. Only allow friends and trusted contacts to see your posts or DM you, and be cautious about accepting friend requests from people you don’t know.

• Limit Location Sharing: Avoid sharing your location publicly. Turn off location services for apps unless absolutely necessary, and never tag your location in real-time on social media.

• Report and Block Harassers: Platforms like Instagram, Twitter (because no one calls it X...), and Facebook have options for blocking and reporting abusive users. Don’t hesitate to use them and document incidents.

2. Protecting Against Image-Based Abuse (Revenge Porn)

Women are disproportionately affected by image-based and video-based abuse, commonly known as revenge porn. A study by Cyberrights.org found that 90% of victims of non-consensual pornography are women. The emotional and psychological consequences are devastating, often compounded by the public shaming that follows.

Why Women Are More Impacted:

Society often places unfair expectations on women regarding their sexual conduct and appearance, leading to harsher judgment when intimate images are shared without consent. Additionally, the power dynamics in abusive relationships or revenge scenarios often involve men exploiting women’s trust and vulnerability through intimate content.

What You Can Do:

• Be Cautious with Intimate Content Creation: Don't be bullied or pressured into sharing intimate content of yourself, even with partners. If you do want to create or send intimate images or videos, consider using apps with disappearing messages or encrypted platforms like Signal, which offer more control over how your images are shared. For private sharing, make sure you keep the content on devices and platforms that you control, and limit permissions of the viewing parties (don't allow downloads, view only, revoke permissions after a period of time, etc.)

• Know Your Rights: In many regions, laws are in place to help victims of image-based and video abuse. Familiarize yourself with local laws, and if it happens, act quickly by contacting platforms to remove the content and seeking legal recourse.

• Use Reverse Image Search: If you suspect your images may have been exploited, perform a reverse image search of your photos to see if they’ve been shared without your consent.

3. Technology and Domestic Violence

Technology-facilitated abuse is on the rise, and women in abusive relationships are particularly vulnerable. According to the National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV), over 70% of domestic violence victims are stalked via technology. Smart devices, GPS trackers, and spyware apps can be used by abusers to control and intimidate their victims.

Why Women Are More Impacted:

Domestic violence disproportionately affects women, with approximately 1 in 3 women experiencing physical or sexual violence by an intimate partner at some point in their lives. The digital age has extended this abuse into the realm of technology, giving abusers more tools to control and monitor their victims, making it harder for them to escape dangerous situations.

What You Can Do:

• Audit Your Devices: Regularly check your devices for apps you don’t recognize or unusual activity. Spyware apps may run in the background without obvious signs. Consider downloading and installing an anti-malware and anti-spyware application on all of your devices, especially your smartphones. Malwarebytes is a reputable app you can use to protect yourself. It doesn't hurt to reboot your phone every night and make sure the latest updates are installed too.

• Stop Location Sharing: Turn off location sharing on your devices, apps, and accounts. Put your phone into airplane mode or turn it off entirely when traveling places you don't want to be tracked going to or coming from.

• Change Passwords Regularly: Ensure your passwords are strong and not shared with anyone, especially if you’re concerned about being monitored. Bonus: enable multifactor authentication for all your private accounts, so even if someone does get your password, they won't be able to login unless you approve it from another device.

• Check All Smart Devices: If you have a smart home system, ensure you’re the one controlling it. Consider changing account passwords or even factory resetting devices to break unwanted connections.

This dovetails directly into unwanted tracking devices too. Detecting unwanted Apple AirTags or similar tracking devices on your car or in personal belongings like a car or a purse is crucial for protecting your privacy. Here are steps to help you find or detect these devices:

• Use Your iPhone or Android Phone

  • Apple designed AirTags to notify people who may be unknowingly tracked. If you have an iPhone running iOS 14.5 or later, your phone can automatically detect unfamiliar AirTags nearby.

    • For iPhone users:

      • If an AirTag is traveling with you (and its owner isn't nearby), you'll receive a notification that reads "AirTag Found Moving With You."

      • Tap the notification to get more information, including instructions on how to disable it.

      • You can also open the Find My app and tap Items to manually search for any nearby AirTags.

    • For Android users:

      • Apple has released an Android app called Tracker Detect. Download the app from the Google Play Store, and it can scan for nearby AirTags.

      • If it detects an AirTag, it will notify you, and you'll be able to disable it following the provided instructions.

• Check for Physical Devices

  • To detect unwanted tracking devices, manually check your car, purse, or personal items for anything that doesn’t belong. Here are some key places to check:

    • For your car:

      • Check under the vehicle, wheel wells, bumpers, and exhaust pipe for small objects.

      • Look in crevices around the dashboard, under seats, and in storage compartments.

      • Check any magnetically attached parts of the car where a tracking device could be placed.

    • For your purse or backpack:

      • Thoroughly empty your purse or bag and examine all pockets, linings, and seams for any unfamiliar devices.

      • Pay attention to any unfamiliar objects, especially small disks like AirTags, Tile devices, or other Bluetooth trackers.

• Listen for Beeping

  • AirTags are designed to play a sound after being separated from their owner for 8 to 24 hours. Listen carefully for any unfamiliar beeping coming from your belongings or vehicle, which could indicate a hidden tracker.

• Use Bluetooth Scanning Apps

  • There are apps that can help detect Bluetooth signals from nearby devices:

    • For iOS and Android:

      • Download apps like Bluetooth Scanner (iOS) or LightBlue (Android) to manually scan for nearby Bluetooth devices.

      • These apps can show all Bluetooth devices in the vicinity, including AirTags and other trackers, even if you don’t get a notification.

• Disable or Remove an AirTag

  • If you find an unwanted AirTag, you can disable it:

    • Tap the back of the AirTag with an NFC-enabled phone to see its serial number and instructions for disabling it.

    • To manually disable it, twist off the back of the AirTag and remove the battery.

    • Take pictures of the rogue device, document the serial information, and throw it away.

      • Consider contacting Law Enforcement

        • If you find an unwanted tracking device and suspect it’s being used maliciously, contact local law enforcement. They can help investigate further and trace the owner of the device using the serial number.

4. Breaches of Private, Personally Identifiable Information

Women are often more vulnerable to privacy breaches related to personally identifiable and electronic health data. Apps tracking reproductive health data are more likely to sell data to third parties, increasing privacy concerns for women. Additionally, women are more vulnerable to stalkers and violent criminals who obtain their personally identifiable information. This includes ex romantic partners looking to track down a former lover.

Why Women Are More Impacted:

Women frequently use apps to track personal health, such as menstrual cycles, pregnancy, and fertility, which can be sensitive. In regions where reproductive rights are under threat, this data can be weaponized against women, making privacy even more critical. Furthermore, women are at a disproportionately high risk for violence from men, especially current or former romantic partners.

What You Can Do:

• Review App Permissions: Before using health apps or apps that collect private info, check what data they’re collecting and who they share it with. Opt for apps that don’t sell your data or offer clear privacy protections.

• Turn Off Data Sharing: Some apps have settings that allow you to control what data they share. Always turn off location sharing, ad tracking, and unnecessary data collection.

• Use Encrypted Apps for Sensitive Information: If discussing personal or health matters, use encrypted messaging apps like Signal or WhatsApp for added privacy.

• Use Alternative Contact Information and Pseudonyms where possible: For seriously personal and private health related items or domestic concerns, use PO boxes, pseudonyms, or other safe addresses. Obtain a Google voice number and use that instead of your actual mobile number.

• Ask the companies directly. Ask healthcare providers and other companies what they're doing to safeguard your information. Make sure their voice-over-IP services are encrypted, that they use encryption at rest for any stored audio and text, that your private information is encrypted, that backups they have are encrypted, that they don't sell information to 3rd parties, etc.

5. Securing Your Online Life

While both men and women fall victim to scams, research shows that women are more often targeted by certain types of scams, such as romance scams. According to the FBI, women over the age of 40, particularly those who are widowed, divorced, or separated, are especially vulnerable to romance scams. These scams include catfishing (false identity), which also lead to safety risks when meeting someone in person. A study by Pew Research also found that 37% of women on dating apps have experienced unwanted contact after a match.

Why Women Are More Impacted:

Scammers look to exploit emotional vulnerabilities, and (whether true or not) women are often seen by would-be scammers as easier targets for emotional manipulation in contexts such as dating or caregiving. Additionally, women are statistically more likely to engage in caregiving roles, leading them to be targeted by scammers offering fraudulent jobs or health-related products.

Women also face a greater risk of physical harm from people they meet online. Gender dynamics often place women in situations where they feel pressured to give out personal information or meet in person before they are ready, which heightens their vulnerability.

What You Can Do:

• Be Skeptical of Unsolicited Offers: Whether it’s a job, a message from a stranger, or an email from a company, be cautious. Scammers often rely on emotional manipulation—take a moment to verify the source. Look up websites, phone numbers, and email addresses yourself, don't just rely on information provided in an unsolicited message.

• Report Scams: If you’ve been targeted by a scam, report it to your local authorities, consumer protection agencies, or the platform involved.

• Verify Identities: Before meeting someone in person, make sure they are who they say they are. Video calls and checking their social media can help confirm their identity.

• Meet in Public: Always choose public places for initial meetings, and tell a friend or family member where you’re going. If possible, bring along someone you trust to accompany you.

• Control Your Digital Footprint: Avoid oversharing personal information on dating apps, such as your address, workplace, or detailed travel plans.

6. Cyber Bullying and Mental Health

The psychological toll of cyber abuse is often more pronounced for women. Research shows that women report higher levels of emotional distress from online harassment than men (this is because the abuse is more prevalent and intense). Women often face gender-based insults, physical threats of rape and violence, and a barrage of negative comments, making the emotional and mental impacts deeper.

Why Women Are More Impacted:

Women are socialized to care about their reputation and social standing, so attacks on their appearance, intelligence, or character by other women can feel more personal and harmful. Additionally, when the attackers are men, the volume and intensity of gender-based harassment heavily contributes to intense feelings of fear, anxiety, and isolation, leading to serious concerns for their own safety.

What You Can Do:

• Seek Support: If online abuse is affecting your mental health, reach out to support groups or a therapist. Many organizations specialize in helping victims of cyber abuse and are often low or no cost.

• Set Boundaries: Limit your online time and engage only with platforms or groups that prioritize safety and positivity. Leave toxic communities and surround yourself with supportive friends and family of all genders.

• Practice Self-Care: It’s important to step away from the digital world regularly. Take breaks from social media, and focus on activities that make you feel safe and empowered.

Empower Yourself with Cybersecurity Knowledge

I'm truly sorry that the digital world in many ways is a scarier place for women than it is for men. I personally am diligently working to combat that, both in my personal life and as part of my career in IT and cybersecurity. By being aware of all these gender-specific risks, you can take the first step toward better protecting yourself. By taking control of your privacy settings, securing your devices, and staying informed, you can navigate the digital world more safely and confidently.

Your online safety is as important as your physical safety. By following these tips, you can help protect yourself from many of the unique cybersecurity threats that disproportionately impact women today.