(These resources were originally assembled for a presentation I gave at Swarthmore College on February 21, 2017 and were updated for a second presentation on April 4, 2017.)
Resources for Security
- Security in-a-Box – a guide to digital security for activists and human rights defenders
- A DIY Guide to Feminist Cybersecurity
- Surveillance Self-Defense (Electronic Frontier Foundation)
- Encrypting Your Laptop Like You Mean It (The Intercept)
- Communicating in Secret While We’re All Being Watched (The Intercept)
- Edward Snowden Explains How to Reclaim Your Privacy (The Intercept)
Swarthmore ITS Policies
- Electronic Privacy
- Acceptable Use
- Information Security
Security Basics
- Stay Safe Online (National Cyber Security Alliance)
- How to Manage Your Social Media Privacy Settings (IDWise)
- Identity Protection Resources for Everyone (IDWise)
- The Normal Person’s Guide to Internet Security
Basic Software
- Password managers
- Antivirus programs
- Online backup services
Encrypted Communications
- Signal Messaging App (Open Whisper Systems) – text, voice, and video calls
- Silent Circle Blackphone
- PGP encryption for email
- OTR messaging – chat encryption
Private Browsing
- The Tor Project
- VPNs
- Understand VPNs and what they can and cannot do
- Compare VPNs
- Free VPN options just so you’re safe when traveling
- Recent report on how bad some VPNs for mobile are
- PRISM-break
Care and Feeding of Smartphones
- The Privacy Enthusiast’s Guide to Using an iPhone
- The Privacy Enthusiast’s Guide to Using Android
- Erasing data from smartphones
- https://www.cnet.com/how-to/how-to-wipe-your-phone-or-tablet-before-selling/
- https://dban.org// (commercial Blancco service for wiping your smartphone)
Additional Resources for Survivors
- Privacy & Safety on Facebook: A Guide for Survivors (National Network to End Domestic Violence)
- Safety & Privacy on Twitter: A Guide for Survivors of Harassment and Abuse
- Technology & Confidentiality Resources Toolkit (National Network to End Domestic Violence)
- Techsafety.org (National Network to End Domestic Violence)
Miscellaneous
- Text expansion apps
- Sharklasers.com – disposable temporary email address
Security Information
- Electronic Frontier Foundation
- Bruce Schneier
The Law
- Your rights with your devices at border crossings
- Unlocking smartphones
- ACLU: know your rights
- Flex Your Rights
- https://www.flexyourrights.org/
- 10 rules for dealing with police: https://youtu.be/s4nQ_mFJV4I
- Busted: The Citizen’s Guide to Surviving Police Encounters: https://youtu.be/yqMjMPlXzdA
- https://www.flexyourrights.org/
- It’s illegal for law enforcement officers to tell you to destroy evidence on your phone.
- Apple Inc’s Motion to Vacate Order Compelling Apple Inc. to Assist Agents in Search, and Opposition to Government’s Motion to Compel Assistance, ED No. CM 16-10 (SP)
Privacy
- Daniel J. Solove, “Why Privacy Matters Even if You Have ‘Nothing to Hide'” Chronicle of Higher Education, vol. 57, issue 37.
- http://www.chronicle.com/article/Why-Privacy-Matters-Even-if/127461
- Most likely behind a paywall for some people.
- http://www.chronicle.com/article/Why-Privacy-Matters-Even-if/127461
- Cathy O’Neil, Weapons of Math Destruction. (Crown Publishing, 2016).
- http://www.powells.com/book/weapons-of-math-destruction-how-big-data-increases-inequality-threatens-democracy-9780553418811/2-1
- Has some important ideas, but I also think there is merit to this reader’s critique: https://www.amazon.com/review/RXBU9LJV75J9Z/ref=cm_cr_dp_title?ie=UTF8&ASIN=0553418815&channel=detail-glance&nodeID=283155&store=books, so read it with a critical lens.
- http://www.powells.com/book/weapons-of-math-destruction-how-big-data-increases-inequality-threatens-democracy-9780553418811/2-1
- Bruce Schneier, Data and Goliath: The Hidden Battles to Capture Your Data & Control Your World. (W.W. Norton & Co., 2015)
SJ 34 – Congress votes to drop some online privacy protections
- Bruce Schneier, “Congress Removes FCC Privacy Protections on Your Internet Usage”
- Brian X. Chen, “What the Repeal of Online Privacy Protection Means for You” (New York Times)
- Alina Selyukh, “As Congress Repeals Internet Privacy Rules, Putting Your Options in Perspective” (NPR)
- Brian Krebs, “Post-FCC Privacy Rules, Should You VPN?”