Online Learning
This work was done in collaboration and the support of Transitions Online
Introduction
Computers and the Internet are all about information gathering, storage and exchange. Hence, the topic of security in the digital realm relates to the security of information and its communication. The Internet, in theory, provides everyone with an equal opportunity to access and disseminate information. Yet, as time has shown, this is not always the case. Governments and corporations realize the importance and value of controlling information flows, and of being able to decide when to restrict them. The security of information is further complicated by malicious individuals creating computer viruses and hacking into computer systems, often with no other motive than causing damage.
Confusion and complexity is heightened by the abundance of software, hardware and electronic devices built to interact with an increasingly sophisticated and complicated network. Users have to immerse themselves in concepts and technology that seem to be far removed from the real world. The security of your information, online identity and the privacy of your communications falls first and foremost upon your shoulders and requires comprehension of how the Internet and your computer actually work.
The Internet has profoundly changed social interaction and the dissemination of ideas and knowledge. Publication is no longer restricted by geographic or financial boundaries, and any citizen could become a journalist and reach a global audience.
This online training course has several objectives. It aims to educate and raise awareness to the technical aspects behind computer and Internet operations as a precursor to explaining inherent digital risks and vulnerabilities. Because it is virtually impossible to predict and describe in advance every security situation that one could encounter – the emphasis here is to provide enough background information and explanation of risks to make the user aware of the problem and able to make an educated and appropriate response. The other objective is to provide solutions to the most common security threats faced by journalists working in politically repressive countries, as well as links and references to software tools and manuals for further study and exploration of the subject.
Lesson 1 - The Internet and its Pitfalls
This chapter is a requirement to understanding other topics covered in Lesson 1 and throughout the Internet Security Course.
A distinction must be made between what we perceive as surveillance in the physical world – a person watching and shadowing your movements, and what occurs on the Internet.
Lesson 2 – Privacy! On the Internet?
The Internet is a network of networks passing data through numerous intermediary computers and routers. Data typically travels the Internet in a readable (insecure) format. Your search query on Google or your Yahoo email message is accessible to your local Internet service provider as well as the body monitoring the national telecommunications infrastructure. By default, there is no privacy in Internet communications and many become victims of random and targeted network surveillance and traffic analysis. There are however, certain steps and measures you can take, some easier than others, to ensure a level of privacy in your Internet communications.
The open - we can see everything that you send and receive - Internet could not become a powerful medium for business nor could it ensure a general users' expectation of privacy.
Instant messaging tools such as MSN Messenger and Yahoo Chat also use open channels for communicating your information. Everything you send or receive using these programs is liable to surveillance.
