WUNRN
Get
to know technology and find out how you can take steps to make your online
experience a safer one. Here are some tips and ideas on how you can protect
your privacy while browsing and communicating online.
Be Safe
If your computer is connected to the internet, or is shared between a few people, always imagine that there is a road that can connect others into your computer. Sometimes we put in a lot of information about who we are and what we do. It's not hard to be aware of a few things to protect your personal data on your computer, and on the internet.
Cyberstalking includes (repeatedly) sending threats or false accusations via email or mobile phone, making threatening or false posts on websites, stealing a person’s identity or data or spying and monitoring a person’s computer and internet use. Sometimes the threats can escalate into physical spaces. As in other types of violence against women, cyberstalking is about power relations, intimidation and establishing control. If you are being stalked, know first and foremost that you did NOT “provoke” this harassment. Here are some tips to help prevent it.
How many passwords do you have? How many times do you get asked for a password as you use different spaces on the internet? One of the number one problems – and concerns – cited by women's rights activists in secure online communications workshops is that email and social networking accounts “get hacked”. There are many ways that people can gain access to our private accounts that never entail actual hacking, but one of the most common is our own poor password management. Find out what the risks are, and how to build better passwords and practice.
When you are browsing websites, information about your activity is also collected & stored, for example through temporay cache files. Domestic violence abusers are able to know if their partners have tried to search for information about support services and help by going through the computer cache files. Learn how to surf securely and erase your online tracks.
Learn about some good practices to help you protect yourself as you use emails. For example, don't automatically open attachments, choose the option to view and send email in plain text, learn how to use PGP - an encryption programme - to improve your privacy, and more!
Chat securely. Learn how to disable archive, switch on private conversations where available, and handy tips like don't reveal too much personal information on your online profile.
Mobile phones, especially now that even basic handsets incorporate camera and recording capabilities, are excellent tools for documenting violence and harrassers. At the same time, they can also be used to track and monitor someone's location or private communication. Learn how to better protect your privacy on mobile phones.
A portable application is a computer programme that you can store and carry around with you using devices like a USB memory stick or hard drive, mp3 player or mobile phone. Portable Apps allows you to have your software and personal data everywhere you go. Download the Take Back The Tech! portable app customised for online safety!
Because mobile phones have become such a central part of our lives, it's important to be aware of some of the associated risks and vulnerabilities. As they get more advanced there are increasing points of vulnerability to be aware of regarding your personal safety and privacy. Since we tend to store a lot of information about your friends, family and contacts on your phone, protecting your privacy also means protecting theirs.