As with any internet-related activity, camming comes with its own drawbacks — such as privacy concerns. Whether you want to keep potential stalkers at bay, or maybe just keep your job a secret from certain family members and friends, protecting your privacy is important. Luckily, adult sites offer some tools to help safeguard your privacy, and you can further protect yourself by taking the following additional recommended steps.
BE VAGUE ABOUT VITAL INFORMATION
There are lots of different ways to mask your digital footprint, and it’s well worth taking the time to explore the various options available in order to find the solution that best suits your needs.
I really shouldn’t have to remind you never to use your real name online, but just in case: Don’t use your real name online. Create a stage name for your model profile and your associated social media accounts. In general, the less personal information that could help identify you, the better. Avoid sharing your real birthday, where you will go on vacation, what schools you’ve attended, etc.
HIDE YOUR IP ADDRESS WHEN SENDING EMAILS
Hiding your IP address is important if you plan on emailing customers. Emails collect the sender's information, including their internet protocol (IP) address. There are tools that can be used to identify your general location, through reverse phone lookups or website statistics, for example. So remaining anonymous while sending emails is key. You never know who could be reading your messages, and you don't want to take any chances.
There are lots of different ways to mask your digital footprint, and it's well worth taking the time to explore the various options available in order to find the solution that best suits your needs. One of the most popular methods for hiding an IP address is to use a Virtual Private Network (VPN). This involves connecting to a server in another location and routing your traffic through that network. This makes it appear as if you're based in the country where the server is located, which can be very useful if you want to access geo-restricted content or bypass censorship filters.
Another popular option is to use a proxy server. This works like a VPN, except that your traffic is routed through a third-party server instead of being directly connected to the destination website. Proxies are often used to bypass firewalls or access blocked websites, but they can also be useful for hiding an IP address.
There are also some less conventional methods that can be used for hiding an IP address. One of these is to use the Tor network, which is designed to provide anonymity for users who wish to remain hidden online. However, it should be noted that Tor is not without its drawbacks and it can be quite slow, so it's not always the best option if you're looking to browse the web.
USE GEO-BLOCKING OPTIONS
Every camming site offers the option to block specific countries or regions within countries. This is a great idea if you don’t want your family, friends or acquaintances to find out about what you do when the webcam is on. If you live in the U.S., you can block the whole country so that nobody located there can find your profile. Some sites even have the option of banning select regions within the U.S., if you just want to keep away people from your state.
BE CAREFUL WITH WISH LISTS
If your model profile includes a link to your wish list on an external site, be aware that this might compromise your identity as it’s possible to get the tracking information from certain wish list purchases. If you want to keep your identity under the radar, there are some workarounds. For example, some studios will receive packages at their addresses and then ship them directly to you. If this is not a possibility for you, you can always get a P.O. Box outside your hometown and use it for your wish list mailing address.
BAN ABUSIVE USERS
If someone is harassing you or being rude to you in your chat room, that’s where you should draw the line. Turn to your cam site’s blocking features to deal with these kinds of users. Platforms may even have intuitive banning systems to make things more convenient for models, with time-based options ranging from 10 minutes to 30 days or forever. Milder punishments are useful because sometimes fans can be trained and you never know who your next big spender might be.
Keeping these few considerations in mind will help you stay safe by keeping fans in check and safely away from your private information.
Eva is an industry insider who helps performers make money on their own terms. When she’s not writing a blog post, poking around online or networking, she is practicing yoga or doing Netflix marathons. Contact her at eva@stripchat.com.
