The freedom to be yourself must also exist in the digital world. For many LGBTIQ+ individuals, the Internet is a powerful tool for connection, expression, and community. But it can also be a hostile environment where privacy and personal security can be compromised by threats such as doxing, digital outing, sextortion, and emotional cyberbullying.
During this Pride Month, we want to go beyond the rainbow to talk about something fundamental: the right to a safe, free, and dignified online life. From Panda Security, we join in Pride celebrations by promoting digital security as an act of self-care and empowerment.
Digital safety guide for the LGBTIQ+ Community
Being connected today is almost inevitable, but doing it securely is a choice. For the LGBTIQ+ community, this choice involves particular challenges that go beyond the common risks faced by other users. In a digital environment where visibility can be both a tool for empowerment and a source for exposure, it is crucial to recognize the threats that specifically affect this community.
While anyone can be a victim of a cyberattack, many digital attacks against LGBTIQ+ individuals come with a discriminatory, emotional, or even intimidating component. These threats, often subtle or normalized, can put not only privacy but also emotional stability, personal relationships, and physical security at risk.
Knowing these risks is the first step to protecting yourself. That’s why we’re taking a closer look below at the main digital threats affecting the LGBTIQ+ community, and how to prevent them in a practical, effective way.
Main digital threats affecting the LGBTIQ+ Community
The digital environment is not always an equal playing field for LGBTIQ+ individuals. There are forms of online harassment which, although not always immediately recognized, are designed to exploit specific vulnerabilities.
These threats do not always come in the form of viruses or obvious scams. Often, they masquerade as everyday interactions, apparently harmless social media activities, or conversations that seem secure. But behind them, there might be hostile intentions specifically directed at LGBTIQ+ individuals.
Below, we analyze four of the most frequent and dangerous risks: from unauthorized exposure of personal information to blackmail with intimate content. Understanding how they work and how to protect yourself is key to navigating the digital world with greater confidence and autonomy.
Doxing: Your personal information, exposed without permission
Doxing occurs when someone publishes your personal information —real name, home address, workplace, private photos— without your authorization, generally for purposes such as intimidation, threats, harm, or harassment.
A concerning fact is that 44% of LGBTIQ+ youth in the U.S. have been victims of doxing or similar threats, according to a 2022 study by The Trevor Project.
How to protect yourself:
- Use pseudonyms when participating in public forums or apps.
- Don’t link all your accounts or social media profiles to each other.
- Search for your own name periodically to see what appears online.
Digital Outing: Coming out of the closet without your consent
Although many people choose when and how to share their sexual orientation or gender identity with others, in the digital environment this can be violently exposed. Digital outing occurs when someone publishes or discloses your LGBTIQ+ identity without your consent, exposing you to emotional, family, and professional risks.
Associated risks:
- Workplace or academic discrimination.
- Social or family rejection.
- Verbal, physical, or psychological harassment.
How can you prevent it?
- Control who can tag you in photos, posts, or mention you on social media.
- Do not share sensitive information on untrusted platforms.
- Set up alerts in search engines to notify you when your name appears on new sites.
Sextortion: When intimate content is used for coercion
Sextortion is a form of blackmail that starts with the exchange of intimate content between users and leads to threats to expose that content if certain demands (monetary, sexual, or silence) are not met.
Sextorsion cases through LGBTIQ+ dating apps, such as Grindr or Tinder, increased by 87% between 2020 and 2023 according to an Interpol study.
How to protect yourself:
- Do not share intimate images with people you do not fully trust.
- Use apps with end-to-end encryption and auto-delete features.
- If you become a victim of sextorsion, preserve the evidence and any other relevant information, do not give in to threats, and report it to authorities.
Emotionally targeted Phishing
Phishing does not always look like a scam. In many instances, cybercriminals create personalized messages by using public data to emotionally manipulate their victims. For LGBTIQ+ individuals, these messages can include references to sensitive topics such as health, activism, or relationships.
Warning signs:
- Emails or messages that impersonate real NGOs or other organizations.
- “Exclusive” deals or promotions on LGBTIQ+ apps.
- Fake notifications of blocked or hacked accounts.
What to do:
- Do not respond or click suspicious links without verifying the source first.
- Always check the sender’s domain.
- Enable anti-phishing filters and advanced web protection with the safe browsing feature included in the Panda Dome product line.
Digital security is also pride
The LGBTIQ+ community has fought for their visibility, right to exist, and freedom. And today, this fight also occurs in the digital environment. Browsing online safely, safeguarding your identity, and protecting your data is not only a duty: It is a way to claim your right to live without fear.
At Panda Security, we believe that your identity deserves protection, also online. This Pride Month, we share this message with you and all those who believe that technology should be an ally, not a threat. Let’s continue to build a safer, more inclusive, and more aware Internet. Because in the digital world, just as in the real one, no one should ever feel in danger for being who they are.