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OpSec and Hexbear (hexbear.net)
submitted 3 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) by keepcarrot@hexbear.net to c/chapotraphouse@hexbear.net

Hexbear started during the 2020 BLM protests, where cops were using social media and internet presence to track down activists. They are still doing this, but with less vigor than when police stations were burning down.

This included things like using tattoos on naked bodies, etsy store receipts etc.

Just before the r/cth ban, there was also a problem with chasers and leering objectification, and steps were taken to reduce thirst-posting and the like.

These things combined means that people don't post selfies or direct identifying information. People post their pets and artwork, but I know I have to make a decision about where and when I post things to make things non-trivial for cops or random chuds. I feel like a unique pet name, breed, and rough region could be enough to track someone down.

Even so, I think I'm bad at it. I feel like if someone knew me and read everything on hexbear they could ID me pretty easily (and I know multiple people in person on hexbear, but we've never exchanged usernames).

Idk if there are any hard and fast rules beyond the selfies and direct ID though. I should burn this account.

Edit: removed reference to masculinity

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[-] keepcarrot@hexbear.net 11 points 3 days ago

Even if you make a new account regularly on a site as small as this its pretty easy to see if an account showed up around the time your old one went inactive and then followed all the same communities your old one did.

Fortuntely, I only follow the defaults and the last time I burned my account Hexbear closed down new accounts for three days >.>

I think my main cross-account doxxing would come from artwork I personally have been created and I think both communities would enjoy. Reverse image search would out me pretty fast, especially if the post gets no traction (if a post goes viral, then its more likely it would be posted by a rando).

(I think being on hexbear and autistic doesn't actually change anything)

[-] propter_hog@hexbear.net 10 points 3 days ago

Hexbear + Autistic is pretty much just Hexbear

[-] Xiisadaddy@lemmygrad.ml 7 points 3 days ago

Well a lot of sites track you across sites by fingerprinting your browser, cookies, stuff like that. So you dont necesarilly have to do anything for that. Its why using a different web browser helps.

[-] Erika3sis@hexbear.net 7 points 3 days ago

How does using a different web browser per se compare to using a user-agent switching extension?

Sent from Mdewakanton Dakota lands / Sept. 29 1837Treaty with the Sioux of September 29th, 1837

"We Will Talk of Nothing Else": Dakota Interpretations of the Treaty of 1837

[-] blight@hexbear.net 8 points 3 days ago

Tracking scripts use way more than the user agent. In fact, only changing your user agent makes you stand out more. See EFF’s site.

[-] Erika3sis@hexbear.net 3 points 3 days ago

I should note that this is in conjunction with blocking scripts etc by default.

Sent from Mdewakanton Dakota lands / Sept. 29 1837Treaty with the Sioux of September 29th, 1837

"We Will Talk of Nothing Else": Dakota Interpretations of the Treaty of 1837

[-] Edie@hexbear.net 8 points 3 days ago

Browser fingerprinting is complicated, there is a lot more than just user-agent.

[-] SamotsvetyVIA@hexbear.net 8 points 3 days ago

using a user-agent switching extension?

If you mean the Firefox Multi-Account Containers extension, then that's fine (although I have issues with cookie management in that), but just switching a user-agent is not enough to stop fingerprinting and cookies. Some new features like cookie bounce protection in the latest update and the enhanced tracking protection can kind of prevent this leakage, but remember that it's a numbers game and you need to be lucky always to not give anything away that could link your account to an off-site account.

[-] Xiisadaddy@lemmygrad.ml 5 points 3 days ago

Honestly i have no idea ive never used one.

this post was submitted on 15 Dec 2024
182 points (98.9% liked)

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