DIGITAL SECURITY HELPLINE
WHAT IS THE DIGITAL SECURITY HELPLINE?
Access Now’s Digital Security Helpline works with individuals and organizations around the world to keep them safe online. If you’re at risk, we can help you improve your digital security practices to keep out of harm’s way. If you’re already under attack, we provide rapid-response emergency assistance.
Our 24/7 services are available with support in nine languages: English, Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Russian, Tagalog, Arabic, and Italian. We respond to all requests within two hours.
HOW CAN WE HELP YOU?
We are a free-of-charge resource for civil society around the world. We offer real-time, direct technical assistance and advice to civil society groups & activists, media organizations, journalists & bloggers, and human rights defenders.
The Helpline will walk you or your organization through assessing the risks you face in your work, and
together we’ll prioritize your digital security needs. We’ll help you resolve existing problems, teach
you some of the most important best practices, and help you get into a secure mindset for the future.
If you are targeted based on your work or activism, we can help you protect your communications, secure your online accounts, and keep your sensitive information safe.
Has your news site been blocked or taken offline? Need help communicating securely with editors and sources? We can help.
Whether you need to protect your communications with your partners, securely store evidence or other sensitive data, or stay safe when you travel, we’re here to assist you.
OUR SERVICES
24/7, real-time, direct technical assistance and advice
No matter what digital security challenges you face, we offer a range of services and resources to help you be safe online:
Rapid response for digital security incidents
Personalized recommendations, instruction, and follow-up support for digital security issues
Help assessing risks and creating organizational or community security strategies
Guidance and educational materials on security practices and tools for organizations, communities, groups, and individuals
Support for securing technical infrastructure, websites, and social media against attacks
Referrals, capacity-building, in-person consultations, and training
DIGITAL
SECURITY
CLINIC
Access Now’s Digital Security Clinic brings the Helpline to you.
Our technologists run clinics at conferences and events around the world, where attendees can raise questions and get immediate help.
HOW TO CONTACT US?
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We commit to using the best practices in the field when we collect, store, and use
sensitive information. For more information about how we protect your personal
data, and our Helpline Terms of Service, please read our Data Usage Policy.
WHERE IS THE HELPLINE?
COMMUNITY & RESOURCES
Access Now’s Digital Security Helpline is a member of the Civil Society Computer Emergency Response Team (CiviCERT), an accredited CERT focused on improving the incident response capabilities of civil society groups and individuals around the world.
CiviCERT is an initiative of Rapid Response Network (RaReNet), a network of non-governmental organizations, internet content and service providers, and individuals who contribute their time and resources to globally improve the security awareness of civil society groups.
As part of Access Now’s work and in collaboration with the broader community, we create and contribute to guides and materials to help communities, organizations, and individuals improve their digital security. These guides target a spectrum of users, from non-technical users to website administrators. Please find some guides below:
Digital First Aid Kit
A resource for emergency situations, such as when your social media account is compromised, your website is attacked, or your computer is infected
Helpline PGP Email Encryption Guides (Windows | Mac | Linux)
Guides for setting up encrypted email
Helpline Safer Travel Guide
Helping you prepare for travels to high-risk countries
Helpline Self-Doxing Guide
Tips and resources for exploring open source intelligence on oneself to prevent online doxing
Helpline Community Documentation
The procedures and documentation we create to aid our work on the Helpline
Partner organizations have produced a number of guides and resources that we find valuable in our work, and you may too. They include:
Security in a Box
From Frontline Defenders and the Tactical Technology Collective
Surveillance Self-Defense
From the Electronic Frontier Foundation
Umbrella
From Security First