Image exploitation is when an individual’s image is used without their knowledge or consent to exploit the individual or other entity. Images that can be exploited are diverse and cover instances where leverage can be gained by a perpetrator, including intimate photos, private emails and text messages, and credential information. Images may also be fraudulently used on fake credentials and web sites that sell products.
The impact of image exploitation on a person can be very significant and can be influenced by their willingness to communicate and confide in others, their sense of helplessness, the perceived impacts to them and others, and the seriousness others take in assisting with their response.
The process of detecting if an image has been exploited can at times be quite difficult. Reverse Images search programs (e.g. tineye.com) can be used to search the web for duplication's of an image. Other instances of image exploitation can be more direct, particularly if a perpetrator engages direct with an individual with a view to leveraging their situation for some form of ransom or other benefit.
Something to be mindful of:
Online data storage services are targeted by criminals and compromises are a common occurrence. Eg. Dropbox experienced a breach in 2016 resulting in thousands of user’s accounts and photographs made public to hackers.
Here’s a number of practical measures to consider in reducing the risk of image exploitation:
IDCARE have a number of Social Media Security Fact Sheets to help you detect, prevent and respond to problems you may have. Please see the below Fact sheets on;
Identity Care Australia & New Zealand Ltd (IDCARE) provides identity and cyber security incident response services (the Services) in accordance with the following disclaimer of service:
IDCARE is Australia and New Zealand’s national identity and cyber incident community support service. We are a not-for-profit charity.
While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information in this alert, IDCARE disclaims any liability to any person in respect to any actions performed or not performed as a result of the contents of the the Services or any accompanying data provided. Wider dissemination may be permitted by authority in writing from IDCARE’s Managing Director. If you would like to provide feedback please use our Feedback Form.
A credit report is a point in time snapshot of what credit related transactions you have made.
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This is exploitation of the online environment to harass, intimidate or threaten someone.
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A credit reporting agency is a private company that collects data and maintains historical information.
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The National Relay Service (NRS) is a government initiative that allows people who are deaf, hard of hearing and/or have a speech impairment to make and receive phone calls.
The NRS is available 24 hours a day, every day and relays more than a million calls each year throughout Australia.
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