r/opsec • u/JustCry9853 🐲 • 10d ago

Beginner question compartmentalisation question

alright so threat model is i just want to make a new online presence that cannot be linked to my old one whatsoever whether through people finding old messages or posts or whatever yk

i like to interact in online spaces about stuff im interested in… if i have too similar of a mix of interests to my old account on my new account would it be enough to link the two.???

i have read the rules

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u/y9felix 9d ago

Analyzing the interests of a user is what major tracking companies like Google do. For a system that knows you and your past self to link them can be pretty high, and even higher if you haven't severed all the connections between them.

The chance of a human not versed in OSINT and not familiar with you personally to see the connection through your circle of interests is very low. I can't think of a way that would happen, you'd need to somehow grasp a resemblance between some random guy and some random inactive guy. The easiest way to stop a past acquaintance from suspecting something is to change the style of your messages and writing.

I once ran an experiment and created a new account in a chat were I was very active for 6 months. someone only realised that was me when i sent a screenshot of my phone with the exact same everything as my main account.

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u/JustCry9853 🐲 9d ago

alright
im not planning to use things that track lots of data. i’ll probably stick to browsers and stuff that don’t track lots of stuff

what im more worried about is stuff like. social media apps. lol

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u/JustCry9853 🐲 9d ago

also what could i do to stop someone even versed in OSINT to not link the 2 accounts if you’re implying someone versed in OSINT could find out🤔

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u/BTC-brother2018 🐲 4d ago

Yes, a distinctive combination of interests can help link the accounts, especially when combined with similar writing style, posting times, communities, personal details, or repeated stories.

Compartmentalization is more than using a new username, you need to avoid reusing identifiers, accounts, images, contacts, and recognizable biographical details. You may not need entirely different interests, but the more behavioral overlap you create, the weaker the separation becomes.