[FAQ]

Hey,

I’ve been streaming for a while, and as my Twitch channel’s gotten a little more visibility, I’ve started to get really paranoid about doxxing. I read some horror stories about it, and it’s made me super anxious about my personal security.

I’m pretty sure I’m not accidentally showing anything obvious on stream, but I’m worried about the less obvious stuff. For example, I use my personal PayPal for donations linked from my Twitch panels, and I’ve heard that can show your real name. I also have my personal social media linked in some places from years ago. I just feel like there are probably a dozen small holes in my setup that someone could use.

What are the essential steps you all take for “OPSEC” (Operational Security)? How do you separate your streamer life from your “real” life? I’m looking for a solid checklist of things to lock down, from my on-stream setup to my financial accounts, so I can stream with some peace of mind.

[Jeff Bullas]

Prioritising your operational security is a non-negotiable part of this career.

Short Answer: Protection requires rigorous management of all your content. You must ensure your video, audio, and text outputs are completely sanitised of any personally identifiable information and are separate from your private life.

This digital separation must be applied across every content format you produce and every platform you use.

First, your live video feed is your highest-risk asset. You must stop using full Display Capture and instead use specific Window or Game Capture sources in your broadcast software. This prevents accidental video pop-ups, text notifications, or image-based browser bookmarks from being shown to your audience. You must also ensure your camera’s video background is sterile, containing no mail, personal photos, or identifiable landmarks. Second, your audio content must be controlled. You must be vigilant about not saying your real name or specific local suburbs, and you must also control background audio, as a smart speaker announcing an order or a family member calling your name can be a major leak. Finally, and most critically, you must secure your text and financial data. You must immediately create a business PayPal account to hide your real name on donation receipts. You must also use a completely separate email address and separate social media accounts for your streamer persona to build a firewall between your public-facing text content and your private information.

Cheers,

Jeff

[Author]

Posts