The Digital Security Essentials course will teach you how to guard against the most common digital threats and demonstrate your commitment to cyber security. You will also learn valuable security principals and how to develop compliant policies.

The convenience of digital technology offers a wide array of benefits and risks. As the importance of digital life grows, so too does the risk of having personal data breached, mismanaged or stolen; and indeed the authorities tracking and prosecuting journalists and human rights activists. Users of web based and mobile digital tools should understand both the positive and negative potential of digital devices in order to take full advantage of the technology. For example, storing important information (e.g. phone numbers, health information, etc) in a way that allows you to access it at any time provides convenience but will also put users at risk if confidential information is accessed at the wrong time, by the wrong people, or if the device is misplaced. GPS or social media conversation done without minding security can put journalists and their sources, advocacy communicators and activists at risk. There are ways to protect the safety, security, and privacy of information and offering greater controls and transparency around personal information to foster trust in both the digital and physical world.

Journalists and Civil society practitioners must keep current on the security needs for technology.

After the course, students will be able to implement proper procedures for data confidentiality and availability and will also have developed critical thinking and problem-solving skills using real equipment and software (free and premium).

Objectives of course
As the demand for security professionals continues to grow, many people need to develop an understanding of digital security, overcoming vulnerabilities, security principles, technologies, and procedures used to defend one against cyber-attacks and harassment. Specifically:
• Empower journalists and civil society to know the dangers found in cyber space and mobile digital gadgets they carry and use on day to day basis.
• To train participants in securing digital devices and understand digital security sensitive practices in online and mobile communications.
• To train participants in securing their important data and to communicate it securely to their intended targets over the internet or other digital forms.
• Give participants knowledge and skills of Backing up data and easy encryption
Course Outline
We have designed hands-on tutorials in a way that enables learners to get appropriate digital safety and security skills. The training will strive to equip learners with know-how in:
• Test: How secure are you with your digital gadgets
• Safe expression tactics and practices
• Data backup and encryption
• Personal devices protection
• Logging and log analysis
• Antivirus and spyware suppression
• Filtering, patching, and firewalls
• Documentation of systems
• Appropriate user access
• Crisis preparation and emergency protection
• Data encryption and secure online and mobile communications
• Operational Best Practices
• The digital security mindset
• Network and IT Infrastructure Security
• Most common security vulnerabilities
• Vulnerability and Threat Management (Control access to your data and services)
• Application Security (Secure your devices and software)
• Cloud Security (Secure your Internet connection)
• Mobile Security (Keep your devices and software up to date)
• Planning for the Worst Case
• Encryption

Course Duration: One month (4 hours a day, 5 days a week, 3weeks of remote support)

Equipment needed: Computer or good capacity mobile phone with space to install and test apps

Targeted market: Activists in human rights, journalists, conscious users of digital gadgets

To view this course or apply, please click here.