While it might appear like a dream gig, streaming puts creators in the limelight for better and for worse. Public-facing jobs always come with higher personal risks, but streaming and content creation necessitate unique security considerations.
What security challenges do streamers have to account for, and what actions can they take? Find out more as we step into the world of videos, view counts, and virtual interactions.
The Security Challenges of Being an Audience-Facing Digital Creator
Most security problems streamers contend with stem from popularity. They either result from the actions of others or the streamer’s own (in)action.
Maintaining privacy
Managing and separating the streaming persona from their true self is a key prerequisite of being a successful and safe streamer. Sadly, the more popular you are, the more people will threaten that privacy. Some are benign and just want to become closer to the person they idolize. Others have far more nefarious intentions.
Doxxing is the most popular form of private information exposure. It involves leaking someone’s personally identifiable information like real name and address but can even extend to their finances and more private information if the doxxer is persistent.
Once such information is public, there’s no telling what invested in a streamer’s downfall could do with it. Pranks and other forms of harassment are bad enough, but the situation sometimes gets even worse. Swatting is among the most egregious incidents such privacy breaches can result in, and it's become so widespread that the FBI is starting to track and take it more seriously.
Lack of knowledge and bad cybersecurity hygiene
Streamers range from school-aged children to seniors and cater to countless niches. Even though they depend on and maybe even make a living from their smartphone or PC so much, many are woefully unaware of the cyber threats. Ordinary users already have to deal with problems like account security and scams. However, being in the spotlight means streamers are more likely to attract unwanted attention and become victims of more sophisticated attacks.
For example, it's easy for a regular person to dismiss most phishing emails as bad attempts at account or data theft. However, someone possessing enough knowledge about a streamer's character and aspirations could create a personalized, convincing email or direct message that could have devastating consequences.
How Can Streamers Protect Themselves?
Taking a stand on cybersecurity matters is the only way to keep your streaming career, anonymity, and well-being intact. Here's how to meet these challenges head-on.
Maintaining Privacy
The first step is to have tight control over the information available about you. Always use a pseudonym while streaming, and avoid connecting it to your real-life identity in any way. It's tempting to reveal personal tidbits about yourself when chatting with community members. Even those might be enough to put the pieces together and track you down.
Tech-savvy stream watchers might post links to sights they control in chat and obtain your IP address. They may use that to orchestrate a DDoS attack and disrupt your streams or pinpoint your geographical location.
The easiest way for streamers to hide their IP addresses is through a VPN. For those seeking more personalized online security measures, utilizing a VPN with dedicated IP can offer enhanced privacy and control over their internet presence. When a quality VPN (you can find some in-depth reviews on Reddit’s VPN comparison table) is active, any internet traffic gets encrypted and routed through its private servers first. On the one hand, this ensures no one can spy on or intercept the data. On the other hand, they’ll see the server’s forward-facing IP address instead of the original even if they try.
Managing the fans
Fostering a supportive and positive fan base goes a long way toward improving streamers' safety. Keeping toxic behavior, hate speech, and trolls at bay reduces the risks of doxxing and harassment, not to mention stress and anxiety. Doing so is challenging, however.
Streaming platforms regularly update their terms of service and content policies, but the consensus is that they should take a more active role. One solution successful streamers use is to appoint content moderators who help police chats and weed out toxicity. The vast majority do this without compensation, which raises different concerns.
Improving cybersecurity posture
Cultivating a positive community is an impactful step. Still, it won't keep crooks or companies with ineffective cybersecurity measures from compromising streamers' online safety. It's up to each content creator to remain aware of different threats and do what they can to minimize the risks.
For example, they can start by upping account security with a Chrome password manager. The manager assigns complex and one-of-a-kind passwords to any account, so data breaches, including past login details, can't compromise an account. They also get rid of duplicate and similar passwords, further containing such incidents.
Finding support in the community
It's important to realize you’re not on your own! Twitch alone had more than 8 million active streamers at the beginning of 2024. Many are facing the same challenges and would be happy to share their experiences and strategies. Reaching out and forming connections can help new streamers and pros alike grow their popularity without compromising safety.
Conclusion
Streaming offers a unique opportunity to build your brand, make a living, and bring joy to people around the world interested in what you have to say or do. Being aware of the risks and taking steps to mitigate them will bring you a step closer to making your dream into a long-term, successful reality.