Digital Security for Sex Workers: Protect Your Identity and Stay Safe Online

When you work in sex work, your digital security, the practices and tools used to protect personal information from exposure online. Also known as online safety, it’s not a luxury—it’s your first line of defense. A single leaked photo, wrong address, or unmasked phone number can end your career, put you at risk of violence, or land you in court. This isn’t hypothetical. In 2022, over 300 reported cases of doxxing targeted sex workers in the UK alone—many led to harassment, job loss, or forced relocation.

Doxxing protection, the active measures taken to prevent personal details from being publicly exposed. isn’t just about deleting old posts. It’s about how you use apps, manage burner numbers, and control who sees your location. Tools like Signal, ProtonMail, and encrypted cloud storage aren’t optional—they’re standard gear. And it’s not just about tech. It’s about habits: never using your real name in ads, avoiding geotags in photos, and knowing which platforms automatically track your device ID. Online anonymity, the state of being unidentifiable or untraceable online. means you can’t rely on privacy settings alone. You need layers—fake names, separate devices, and strict boundaries between personal and professional life.

Identity privacy, the control over what personal information is shared and with whom. is the core of survival. It’s why so many sex workers use pseudonyms, avoid linking social media accounts, and never share real ID in client interactions. Even something as simple as using the same username across platforms can be a trap. If one account gets compromised, all of them can be traced back to you. And it’s not just strangers—partners, family, or even well-meaning friends can accidentally expose you. That’s why conversations about boundaries at home matter as much as encrypted apps.

What you’ll find below isn’t theory. These are real stories, real tools, and real steps taken by sex workers who’ve been targeted—and lived to tell it. From how to set up a secure email that can’t be traced, to what apps actually work for hiding your IP, to how to respond when someone tries to dox you—this collection gives you what you need to stay safe, not just scared. No fluff. No guesswork. Just what works.