Privacy Protection

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Created By N. Zimmermann

Books & Online Sources

Related:

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B. Hocks

Travel Guide to the Digital World

Internet Policy and Governance for Human Rights Defenders

Download


A simple electronic network between peace groups in Serbia and Croatia with a connecting server in Germany empowered peace activists in 1991 from both countries to communicate without censorship and control. The ZaMirNET is an early example, how IT may become a civil involvement. It shows, that thanks IT we might easier and deeper exchange. On the other hand the broad use of communication technology may work to control and to direct communication. Censorship, data acceleration, interruption of communication between individuals and groups are a concern of companies and governments since ever.
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In times, where a lot of communication takes places electronically, we have to rethink our care for privacy. Currently most communication data might be stored and analized through those who are not the addressee. For maintaining privacy we need to use specific tools that make surveillance less possible or even impossible.

Beyond this defensive motivation there could be another reason for showing interest for technical tools for protection. Privacy means not only to defend ourselves against nosey pencil pushers. Through a privacy-aware attitude civil actors contributes to more quality of communication and shape spaces of confidentiality.

Introductions Into Privacy and Tracking

  • Security in a Box
     
    Tactical Tech Collective gives an up-to-date overview over general aspects and tools for privacy protection.
    Online

  • Motherboard Guide to Not Getting Hacked
     
    A comprehensive guide to digital security
    Download

  • My shadow
     
    Tactical Tech Collective's introduction into tracking technologies
    Online

  • Big Brother Awards
     
    These negative awards give you an insight in the state of art of big data and surveillance.
    Online

  • Digitale Selbstverteidigung
     
    Digital courage's German languaged privacy page
    Online


General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)

The European regulation is enforcing citizens' rights and therefore regulating the tasks of data collecting businesses and organizations (entities). It is not affecting private persons.

  • A short introduction in the regulation and the tasks provided by European Commission
  • For more background: Watch the documentary about the development of the regulation:


Videos

  • Do Not Track: ARTE's videos introduce into the world of Big Data in German, English, French


Passwords

Principles & Criteria
  • The longer your passwords the better.
  • At least: One capital letter, one number, 6 letters
  • No dictionary words and publicly available information about yourself
  • Consider using a phrase
  • Different passwords for different services
  • Update them regularly

Password Manager

The best electronic tool does not help, when your password is written in an email that is saved in an online email account. Here it can easily be read out. Therefore passwords should better be stored in a more safe place in digital wallets. If you use them, you need only to know one password for accessing the database of such a software. And you might copy and paste them into a form without anibody seeing the password when looking over your shoulder.

Check

Is your email part of one of the big leaks? Is your password unique or as well compromitted? These two tools help you to check:


Virtual Keyboards

...do you know from mobile devices as screen keyboards. These may help when you want to hide your keystrokes from programs logging secretely, which keys you press.

  • Virtual Keyboards are on board in Linux, Win, MacOS


Encryption

Disk Encryption

...makes it complicated or impossible to read hard disks without authorization.

  • Encryption may be activated in Android in the system settings.
  • Standard software is included in Linux which allows you to activate encription during the installatlion process of your system.
  • In some Windows versions you might chose Bitlocker as an encryption tool.
  • In MacOS the standard program is FileVault.
  • Open source solution: VeraCript

File Encryption


Lock & Screensaver

When you use your computer in cafés and you are on the toilet, make sure that your device is saved from nosey neighbors. A screen saver password locks your computer when the screen saver is on. Or,

  • when going to the toilet, use the lock command.


Surveillance Free Connections to the Internet

Between your computer and the internet will be established a connection. In cafés, Hotels, or in some public spaces you get it for free through Ethernet (internet cable) or WiFi. Please consider, that this is not confidential. The guy on the reception may even track your browser history if he uses the right programs. And if you do not visit a SSL secured website (starts with https://), as well the content of visited websites.

VPN is a tool that helps you to surf and email save in critical environments and countries with a strong surveillance policy. This technology builds an encrypted connection to a server in a trustful environment. Therefore you access the internet through this trustful server, not directly through your hotel WiFi.

  • VPN clients are included in Linux and MacOS
  • VPN server need to be set up, often you need to buy a license from one provider.


Browsing

SSL

SSL holds back those who would like to read the content of the websites you visited by encrypting the content during the transport from server to client. In example, when you fill out an online form. Or for finding out, which news you received in your Inbox.

  • You are using SSL transport encryption always when the URL of a page begins with https://.
  • In Firefox, Chrome and Opera you might use HTTPS-everywhere. Then you automatically access through SSL, if a website offers this technology.

TOR

TOR-Project provides browsers that hide your access data. For the servers, that you are addressing and the men in the middle between you and the website you are seen as someone else with a different IP address than your existing address. This technology works as well, when you have no VPN-connection but need to surf confidential.

Search

Clear Surf History and Cookies

Cookies are files left on your computer that track you. Unfortunately we need these for some things like webmailers or access to other webpages with a log in. But you might influence which kind of cookies might be accepted and when it will be deleted.

  • You might use the option "empty cache/delete cookies" by hand.
  • Try, if you may do what you want to do while blocking cookies in general. If not, then at least activate in your browser preferences: "Keep local data only until you quit your browser"

Block Tracking
  • Explain your browser that in general it should not track your behavior by activating the "Do Not Track" function. Some websites care for that.
  • A smart Firefox or Chrome plugin like Ghostery gives control over how your data is collected and used on sites and in ads. As well the Firefox Add-on Lightbeam

Saving Passwords in Browsers (not)
  • Do not save passwords in your browser.
  • If you do so, use a master password
  • Do not allow websites to "save my password" or "keep me logged in"


Mobile Communication

Clouds
  • Check, if your connection to the cloud is encrypted. This is the case if the URL to the cloud space starts with https://
  • Check, if the providers are encrypting the cloud space, i. e. if they could have a look on your data or not.
  • The open source alternative to the big corp clouds are ownCloud or Nextcloud. Everyone can install this on their server or use an ownCloud provider. There are mobile apps for connecting ownCloud clouds, in example for files or for notes. The ownCloud web interface might include as well other productive apps such like a calendar, picture viewer,... The calendar uses CalDAV and CardDAV as standards.
  • Installation on your server: Manual for Nextcloud

Trustworthy apps on your mobile device

Your mobile phone provider and network providers track you through account data, bill data, your personal SIM-number (IMSI), the number of your device (IMEI) and, if governments come into the game, as well more things (i.e. they block the access to your number during demonstrations). Additionally app programmers try to offer you apps for free, that have the only one reason - to spy. Or why does your pocket lamp app require access to your contacts? Depending from your surrounding and activity, you should take these technical feasabilities into account.

  • Really confidential talks require to turn off your mobile phone, best to put it in the minibar.
  • Save your device with a password.
  • Encrypt your device with the onboard solutions

Messengers
  • Signal: Snowden approved. Works only with mobile devices with SIM slots (smartphones) with self-destructing messages.
  • Telegram: Safe, when you use "private chats". Works with smart phones as well as with tablets. Includes self-destructing messages. Servers in Russia.
  • Threema: Not free, but safe. Servers in Switzerland.
  • Jitsi: For traditionalists.

Text Collaboration
  • Etherpad: A safe alternative to working together through googledoc. But only when you generate a random link and only those, tjhat should know the link know it. Open an Etherpad


Email

General
  • Ensure an encrypted transport between email server and your client. This is the case when the link in your browser starts with https:// Or when using an email client program like Thunderbird, SSL/TLS is activated.
  • Set up an email for each of your social network accounts: One for facebook, one for vk. If their database will be hacked, the hackers may not access all of your emails. Don't use there your real email.
  • Using gmail might be a risk, as it connects diverse accounts, reads thorugh your content and might cooperate with your government.

Providers

We are not offering a completed list or promoting certain providers. However, these two could be worth considering due to their very strong privacy features:

  • POSTEO has servers in Germany and costs 1€/month
  • PROTONMAIL is located in Switzerland and offers a basic free package.

PGP Encryption
  • Using an email client is the more safe solution that allows you to use encryption: Email Encryption
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