Digital Security Toolkit

eQuality staff contributed to the creation of the Security in a Box with project coordination, content development and editing, creating a trainers resource kit and leading multiple workshops around the world.

Description: Advocates and human rights defenders are increasingly concerned about their digital security, and with good reason. While computers and the Internet can be extremely powerful tools for advocacy, they also present new risks for a group that is already, in many cases, quite vulnerable. As more advocates have begun to rely on digital technology to achieve their outreach, data-collection, information design, communication and mobilisation objectives, these risks have become more severe.

Application: If you are an advocate who focuses on sensitive issues, or somebody who works closely with one, you have no doubt experienced or heard stories about digital security and privacy threats. Computers and backup drives that were confiscated, passwords that changed mysteriously, local websites that were hacked or overloaded by malicious Internet traffic, foreign websites that can no longer be accessed and emails that appear to have been forged, blocked, modified or read by someone other than the intended recipient. These are true stories, and many of them are set in an environment that makes matters even worse, an environment in which computer operating systems are frequently out-of-date, software is often pirated and viruses run rampant. This toolkit provides explanations of, and solutions for, threats like these. It was created by a diverse team of experts who understand not only the conditions under which advocates work, but also the resource restrictions they face.

Technical Requirements: The toolkit is accessible online and can be also obtained on a CD or a USB stick. All software is based on the Windows operating system and can be downloaded for installation on a personal computer or run from a USB memory stick.

Language: English, French, Spanish, Russian and Arabic. This includes all manuals and software

Website: http://security.ngoinabox.org

Release date:  2008