Reddit Account Security: Complete Protection Guide for 2025

Your Reddit account contains years of personal information, conversations, and digital history. A compromised account can lead to harassment, doxxing, reputation damage, or even identity theft. This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know to secure your Reddit account in 2025.

Top Security Threats to Reddit Accounts

Understanding the threats helps you prioritize your defenses:

1. Account Takeover HIGH RISK

Hackers gain full access to your account through:

• Weak or reused passwords
• Phishing attacks and fake login pages
• Database breaches from other sites
• Keyloggers and malware
• Social engineering

2. Doxxing HIGH RISK

Malicious users piece together your identity from:

• Years of comment history revealing location, work, family
• Posted photos with EXIF data
• Username reuse across platforms
• Pattern analysis of posting times and topics

3. Session Hijacking MEDIUM RISK

Attackers steal your active session through:

• Man-in-the-middle attacks on public WiFi
• XSS (Cross-Site Scripting) vulnerabilities
• Browser extensions with malicious permissions
• Shared computers without logout

4. Targeted Harassment MEDIUM RISK

• Stalkers tracking your activity
• Mass downvoting and brigading
• Spam and malicious DMs
• Impersonation accounts

Essential Security Settings: Step-by-Step Setup

1. Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

This is THE most important security step:

2. Create a Strong, Unique Password

Your password is your first line of defense:

Password Requirements:

• Length: Minimum 16 characters (longer is better)
• Complexity: Mix uppercase, lowercase, numbers, symbols
• Uniqueness: NEVER reuse passwords from other sites
• Randomness: Avoid dictionary words, personal info, patterns

Bad Password Examples:

• ❌ Reddit2025
• ❌ JohnSmith1985
• ❌ P@ssw0rd123
• ❌ qwerty123456

Good Password Examples:

• ✅ Tr!angle-Mango47-Elephant$Quantum
• ✅ 8xP#mK2$vL9@wQ4n (random generated)
• ✅ correct-horse-battery-staple-97!X (passphrase method)

3. Verify Your Email Address

A verified email enables account recovery and security notifications:

1. Go to User Settings → Account
2. Add your email if not already added
3. Click "Resend verification email"
4. Check your inbox and click the verification link

4. Review Active Sessions

Check where your account is currently logged in:

1. Settings → Safety & Privacy
2. Scroll to "Account Activity"
3. Review active sessions (locations, devices, browsers)
4. Log out of any unrecognized sessions
5. Change password if you see suspicious activity

5. Manage Connected Apps

Third-party apps can access your account data:

1. Go to Preferences → Apps
2. Review all authorized applications
3. Revoke access for:
• Apps you don't recognize
• Apps you no longer use
• Apps with excessive permissions

Advanced Privacy Settings

Profile Privacy Controls

Navigate to Settings → Safety & Privacy:

Who Can Contact You

Control who can send you messages and chat requests:

• Chat Requests: Set to "Nobody" or "Accounts older than 30 days"
• Private Messages: Consider disabling from strangers
• Mentions: Disable username mentions if being harassed

Content Visibility Settings

• NSFW content: Control blur and visibility
• Profile visibility: Hide posts from profile page
• Post visibility: Make posts visible only to followers (not recommended for main account)

Protecting Against Doxxing

Doxxing is when malicious users reveal your real identity online. Here's how to prevent it:

1. Scrub Your Comment History

Years of comments can reveal:

• City or neighborhood from local subreddits
• Employer from work-related posts
• Age, gender, relationship status
• Hobbies, routines, favorite places
• Family members and pets (names can be used for social engineering)

2. Use Different Usernames Across Platforms

If your Reddit username is unique and you use it elsewhere:

• Googling it may reveal other accounts
• LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram with same username = easy identification
• Old forum posts with email addresses
• GitHub repositories showing real name

3. Remove EXIF Data from Photos

Photos contain metadata including:

• GPS coordinates (exact location where photo was taken)
• Camera model and settings
• Date and time
• Sometimes even your name if configured

How to Remove EXIF Data:

• Windows: Right-click → Properties → Details → Remove Properties and Personal Information
• Mac: Preview → Tools → Show Inspector → GPS tab → Remove Location Info
• Online tools: imgonline.com.ua/eng/exif-info.php
• Apps: EXIF Eraser (Android), Metapho (iOS)

4. Be Vague About Personal Details

When discussing personal topics:

• Say "major city" instead of specific neighborhood
• Say "tech industry" instead of "software engineer at Google"
• Avoid mentioning specific schools or universities
• Don't reveal exact age, use ranges (e.g., "30s")
• Never mention specific dates of events

Recognizing and Avoiding Phishing

Phishing is when attackers trick you into giving them your password:

Common Reddit Phishing Tactics:

How to Verify Legitimate Reddit Communications:

• Check sender email: Reddit only emails from @reddit.com
• Verify URLs: Only log in at reddit.com (check for HTTPS and padlock)
• Hover before clicking: Hover over links to see real destination
• Check your Reddit inbox: Legitimate notifications appear there too
• When in doubt: Go directly to reddit.com instead of clicking links

Securing Your Devices

Your Reddit account is only as secure as the devices you use:

Computer Security:

• Keep operating system updated
• Use antivirus software (Windows Defender, Malwarebytes)
• Install browser updates promptly
• Use ad-blockers (uBlock Origin) to prevent malicious ads
• Avoid downloading pirated software

Mobile Security:

• Use official Reddit app from App Store / Google Play
• Enable device lock (PIN, fingerprint, Face ID)
• Keep iOS/Android updated
• Review app permissions regularly
• Avoid sideloading apps on Android

Browser Security:

• Use Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or Safari (updated versions)
• Review installed extensions quarterly
• Remove extensions you don't actively use
• Never install extensions that request "access to all websites"
• Clear cookies/cache occasionally

Public WiFi Safety

Using Reddit on public WiFi exposes you to risks:

How to Stay Safe:

• Use VPN: NordVPN, ProtonVPN, Mullvad encrypt your traffic
• Verify HTTPS: Ensure reddit.com has padlock icon
• Avoid sensitive activities: Don't change passwords on public WiFi
• Use mobile data: Cellular is generally more secure than public WiFi
• Turn off auto-connect: Disable automatic WiFi connections

What to Do If Your Account is Compromised

Act quickly if you suspect unauthorized access:

Immediate Actions:

1. Change password immediately: From a secure device
2. Enable 2FA: If not already enabled
3. Review account activity: Check for unauthorized posts/comments
4. Log out all sessions: Settings → Account Activity → Log out all other sessions
5. Revoke app access: Remove all connected third-party apps
6. Check email security: Ensure associated email isn't compromised
7. Report to Reddit: Contact support at reddit.com/report

If You've Been Doxxed:

1. Document everything (screenshots, archives)
2. Report doxxing content to Reddit immediately
3. Report to subreddit moderators
4. File police report if threats are made
5. Consider deleting the compromised account
6. Check if personal info appears on other sites (Google yourself)
7. Request removal from people search sites (Spokeo, WhitePages, etc.)

Security Checklist: Monthly Maintenance

Set a monthly reminder to review these items:

Advanced Security: Using VPNs and Tor

VPN (Virtual Private Network)

What it does: Encrypts your internet traffic and masks your IP address

Benefits for Reddit:

• Hides your real location from Reddit and other users
• Prevents ISP from seeing you use Reddit
• Adds layer of anonymity
• Useful when traveling or on public WiFi

Recommended VPNs:

• NordVPN: Fast, user-friendly, good privacy policy
• ProtonVPN: Based in Switzerland, strong privacy laws
• Mullvad: Anonymous sign-up (no email required)

Tor Browser

What it does: Routes traffic through multiple servers for maximum anonymity

When to use:

• Discussing sensitive topics (whistleblowing, activism)
• Maximum anonymity required
• Avoiding government surveillance

Limitations:

• Slower than regular browsing
• Reddit may require CAPTCHA verification
• Some features may not work properly

Creating a Secure Alternate Account

Many users maintain separate accounts for different purposes:

Best Practices:

• Use completely different username (don't make it similar)
• Different email address (not linked to main account)
• Different password (never reuse)
• Use VPN or Tor when creating account
• Never mention your main account
• Don't post similar content or in same subreddits
• Use different writing style and posting patterns

Conclusion

Reddit account security requires ongoing vigilance. The most important steps are enabling 2FA, using a strong unique password, and regularly reviewing your privacy settings. Combined with careful posting habits and periodic history cleanup, you can significantly reduce your risk of account compromise, doxxing, and harassment.

Security is not a one-time setup—it's a continuous practice. Make it a monthly habit to review your settings and clean up identifying information from your post history.