Işık Mater, Alp Toker: Journalists Should Know About Digital Security

Click to read the article in Turkish 

Işık Mater and Alp Toker made exercises with participants on digital security and basic Wordpress; informed the participants about the TurkeyBlocks, an independent digital research organization. 

Mater told about practical strategies in the age of centralization and the add-ons that can be used for browser security. The workshop also discussed the mechanisms in developing censorship, protecting personal data, blocks on social media and their becoming a policy. 

In the methodology of digital security;

*VPN security, protecting telephone communication, encrypting information 

In the browser security settings;

*Browser session isolation, the effect of the cookies, ensuring data security through browser add-ons. 

In the joint work tool security;

*Google Docs, security keys, YubiKey, and two different methods of identity confirmation were told to the participants. 

Emphasizing that it necessary today to follow the access to data, generation of information, and to know about the interruptions, Mater said, “At this point, it becomes more important for the journalists to know about digital security.” 

Alp Toker gave examples for ensuring the tool security in joint works, such as Google Docs, and said that journalists can use more secure sessions when writing reports. 

The workshop than talked about precautions against online abuse, discussing the importance of encryption, phishing attacks and website security. 

At the end of the day, the participants worked on building a Wordpress page and encrypting emails. 

“Digital Security and Knowledge of WordPress” workshop has been supported by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) and Journalism Media International Center (JMIC) at Oslo Met-Oslo Metropolitan University. (SO/VK)

About Işık Mater 

Işık Mater is a digital rights activist and research director at the TurkeyBlocks Project. She is also the chair of the Alternative Informatics Association and an organizer of the Ungovernance Forum. The TurkeyBlocks works on reporting internet cuts, protecting the freedom of expression of the communities under risk such as the LGBTIs, providing equality for women in the technology sector and training journalists on digital security. 

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