Women in tech face high risks from cyberattackers, including doxxing, harassment, and gender-based phishing. Fight back with strong cybersecurity measures.
Cyberattacks can target anyone. However, a growing body of anecdotal evidence suggests that women in tech are more frequent targets than their male counterparts. However, the data is not clear yet. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), data about cyberviolence against women is inadequate. Also, current estimates of cyberviolence incidence among females are inaccurate. They estimate that one in ten women has experienced some form of cyberviolence since the age of 15. Women in technology are, naturally, part of that demographic.
Factors Contributing to Increased Cyber Threats for Women in Technology
Women are underrepresented in the tech industry. They stand out. They usually maintain an active presence on social media platforms. Many are deeply involved in tech communities and participate in industry conferences. Unfortunately, their prominence can be a double-edged sword.
The Prevalence of Gender Bias and Negative Perceptions of Trustworthiness
In most cultures, women are perceived as more approachable or trusting than men. Cybercriminals exploit these stereotypes with manipulative strategies. For example, they might pose as a colleague who needs help, on the premise that women are naturally more sympathetic.
Workplace Risk Exposure
Tech workers, especially those in leadership positions, handle sensitive company data. That makes them a target for cybercriminals wanting to gain access to secure systems.
Cyberattackers Love Higher Income Targets
The tech industry offers higher-than-average salaries, and women who earn more are bigger targets. Cybercriminals and scammers want access to their bank accounts and lines of credit.
Types of Attacks That Pose Increased Cyber Threats for Women in Technology
Unfortunately, some gender-specific attacks disproportionately affect women in tech. These attacks are sometimes a way to silence or discredit them.
Doxxing
Attackers may publish someone’s private information, aiming to harass or intimidate them. They may target female tech professionals or others who advocate for women in the industry. Doxxing is a weapon of retaliation to discourage them from speaking out.
Stalkers and Harassment
Female professionals who engage in online forums are sometimes subjected to harassment. Cyberbullies may exploit a female’s public presence to bait or troll them online.
Gender-based Phishing
Cybercriminals often exploit stereotypes about female behavior. They assume (sometimes correctly) that women may be more sympathetic to other females or other minorities in tech. For instance, an attacker might impersonate a female colleague or peer looking to network or seeking help. Impersonating companies that sell female-friendly products is another example of gender-based phishing. Special offers are a popular way to trick people into opening malicious attachments.
Workplace and Internal Threats
Women with access to sensitive systems or data may become the envy of malicious internal actors. Internal politics, resentment, or ambition may drive co-workers to use their insider status. Insiders can exploit weaknesses in their organizations’ cybersecurity defenses.
How Women in Tech May Contribute to Their Own Vulnerability
Unfortunately, a professional digital presence can be a helpful public resource for cybercriminals.
Social Media and Digital Footprints
Cybercriminals can track social media accounts to identify targets. A female professional may have an extensive digital footprint. It could contain valuable information for social engineering. Attackers can use the information to craft phishing emails with a personal touch that are more likely to succeed.
Targeting via Personal Relationships
Cybercriminals may approach female professionals in seemingly innocent online interactions to build rapport.
They’re hoping to trade on these friendships or romantic relationships. For example, they may aim to extract sensitive data or infect her devices with malicious software.
Information from Data Breaches
Cybercriminals can collate data from breaches to create personal profiles for phishing attacks. For example, data breaches in the healthcare industry affected 82% of the US population in 2024. Health information is a powerful social engineering tool.
The Importance of Choosing the Most Reliable Cybersecurity Tools
The best defense is for female professionals to up their cybersecurity game.
It’s possible to get some of the recommended services for free. However, you may be paying for them by losing control over your privacy. The stakes are high enough. Women in tech should consider paying a premium for technology that keeps them safer.
Double Down on Strong Password Management
Single Sign-On (SSO) technology can make people forget how many user accounts they have. And if the master password is weak, SSO can be a dangerous weapon in an attacker’s hands. They can become a single point of failure. For example, cracking a Microsoft or Google password will give them immediate access to a multitude of accounts. That’s why password managers have become indispensable. Use it to manage complex, unique passwords for all your different accounts. It helps prevent password reuse and reduces your risk from brute-force attacks.
Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
Enable MFA on all accounts, especially those for professional networks or company systems. Even if a password is compromised, MFA adds a layer of protection that may reduce cyber incidents by up to 42 percent.
Be Proactive With Identity Protection Services
Women in tech are large targets. Subscribe to an identity monitoring service. Take out coverage against cyber extortion, cyber attacks, and online fraud. Cybercrime has become so common that several reputable security companies now offer identity protection services. Make sure the coverage includes identity theft recovery, as in this NordProtect vs. McAfee summary.
Encrypt with Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)
VPNs protect your privacy and security. It encrypts all your online traffic to prevent attackers from snooping or intercepting sensitive data. It’s especially important when using home or public Wi-Fi networks.
Use Secure Communication Channels
Use messaging services that offer end-to-end encryption. Use secure apps like Signal, WhatsApp, or iMessages for sensitive communications.
Install Antivirus and Antimalware Software
Use antivirus and antimalware software on all devices, including privately owned devices. It protects against ransomware and spyware by detecting suspicious activity in real time. Regularly update the software to install the latest security patches.
Get Phishing Protection
Check that your antivirus solution includes the ability to filter and block dangerous emails. Learn how phishing emails function and how to recognize them. Don’t click links or open attachments without checking the destination URL, even if the message came from a trusted source.
The Importance of Continuous Risk Management
It’s unfortunate but true that women in technology face distinctive cybersecurity threats. Ironically, their prominence makes them both attractive targets and more susceptible to cyberattacks. But they can rise to the occasion. Use reliable cybersecurity tools and maintain a strong cyber hygiene routine. Lastly, remember to exercise discretion on social media.
