6.3 Techniques for source protection and anonymity
3 min read•august 9, 2024
Protecting sources is crucial for investigative journalists. like , , and apps help shield sensitive information from prying eyes. These tools create a safer environment for sources to share confidential details.
Journalists must also employ strategies to handle anonymous sources and safeguard information. This includes using , , and . Physical and , along with proper and , further fortify source protection efforts.
Secure Communication Methods
Encryption and VPNs
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- Encryption scrambles data to make it unreadable without a decryption key
- Symmetric encryption uses the same key for encryption and decryption
- Asymmetric encryption employs public and private key pairs for enhanced security
- VPNs create secure tunnels for internet traffic, masking user's IP address and location
- VPNs encrypt data in transit, protecting it from interception by third parties
- Popular VPN protocols include OpenVPN, WireGuard, and IKEv2
Tor Network and Anonymous Messaging
- routes internet traffic through multiple servers to conceal user's identity
- Tor uses onion routing, encrypting data in layers for each node in the network
- Tor browser provides access to the dark web and hidden services
- Signal messaging app offers for text, voice, and video communications
- Signal uses the , which provides and
- Signal allows users to set message expiration times for added security
Anonymous Source Handling
Source Protection Strategies
- Source code names protect identities by using aliases in communications and notes
- Code names should be unique, memorable, and unrelated to the source's real identity
- Secure drop boxes enable anonymous document submission (SecureDrop, GlobaLeaks)
- Drop boxes use encryption and anonymity tools to protect source identities
- Burner phones provide temporary, disposable communication devices
- Burner phones should be purchased with cash and used from varying locations
Physical and Digital Security Measures
- involves proper storage, handling, and disposal of sensitive materials
- Use locked filing cabinets, safes, or secure rooms for storing physical documents
- Implement a "clean desk" policy to minimize exposure of sensitive information
- Employ secure document destruction methods (cross-cut shredders, incineration)
- Use air-gapped computers for handling highly sensitive digital information
- Implement for all digital accounts and devices
Information Protection Techniques
Redaction and Document Sanitization
- Redaction techniques remove or obscure sensitive information from documents
- Digital redaction tools ensure permanent removal of hidden text and metadata
- Use solid black boxes for redacting text in PDFs to prevent recovery attempts
- Avoid using highlighter or marker tools for redaction, as they can be reversed
- Review redacted documents in multiple file formats to ensure information is fully obscured
- Implement a multi-step review process for redacted documents before release
Metadata Management and Removal
- Metadata includes hidden information about files (author, creation date, location)
- Remove metadata from documents before sharing to protect source identities
- Use tools for various file types (images, PDFs, Office documents)
- Disable GPS tagging on cameras and smartphones when taking sensitive photos
- Scrub EXIF data from images to remove location and device information
- Convert documents to plain text or sanitized PDFs to eliminate hidden metadata
Key Terms to Review (21)
Anonymous messaging: Anonymous messaging is the process of sending and receiving messages without revealing the identity of the sender or recipient. This practice is crucial for source protection, allowing individuals to communicate sensitive information without fear of exposure or retribution, especially in contexts involving whistleblowers, journalists, or activists.
Burner phones: Burner phones are prepaid mobile phones that can be easily purchased and discarded, often used to maintain anonymity and protect personal privacy. They allow users to communicate without revealing their identity, making them a popular choice for journalists, whistleblowers, and anyone who wants to keep their conversations private and secure from surveillance.
Clean Desk Policy: A clean desk policy is a set of guidelines aimed at ensuring that employees keep their workspaces free of unnecessary documents and items, thereby enhancing security and confidentiality. This practice is particularly important in fields that handle sensitive information, as it minimizes the risk of accidental disclosure or unauthorized access to confidential materials. A clean desk policy promotes a culture of responsibility, encouraging individuals to manage their information appropriately and maintain an organized work environment.
Code names: Code names are pseudonyms or aliases used to protect the identity of individuals, especially sources in sensitive situations. These names help maintain anonymity and safeguard against potential repercussions that could arise from revealing a source’s identity. By employing code names, reporters can communicate about their sources without compromising their safety or confidentiality.
Deniable Authentication: Deniable authentication is a method of verifying an individual's identity in such a way that the individual can later deny the authentication occurred. This concept is particularly significant in contexts where source protection and anonymity are paramount, allowing sources to provide information without fear of being exposed or identified. Deniable authentication ensures that even if a connection is established, the individual can claim they did not participate, maintaining their anonymity and protecting their identity from potential repercussions.
Digital security measures: Digital security measures refer to the tools and practices designed to protect digital information from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, or destruction. These measures are crucial for ensuring the safety and confidentiality of sensitive data, especially for individuals who rely on anonymous communication to protect their sources. By employing various strategies such as encryption, secure communications, and data protection protocols, individuals can maintain their privacy and shield their identity from potential threats.
Document sanitization: Document sanitization is the process of removing or obscuring sensitive information from a document before it is shared or published. This technique is crucial for protecting the identities and confidentiality of sources, ensuring that any potentially identifiable data is adequately shielded. It encompasses a variety of methods such as redaction, data masking, and encryption to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive content.
Encryption: Encryption is the process of converting information or data into a code to prevent unauthorized access. It protects sensitive information by making it unreadable to anyone who does not possess the necessary decryption key, ensuring the confidentiality and security of communications, especially in environments where privacy is paramount. This technique is essential for maintaining source protection and anonymity, particularly in investigative journalism, where journalists often handle sensitive information that could compromise their sources if disclosed.
End-to-end encryption: End-to-end encryption is a method of data transmission where only the communicating users can read the messages, ensuring that no third party, including service providers, can access the content. This encryption technique is crucial for maintaining privacy and security, particularly in situations where sensitive information is being shared, such as whistleblowing or confidential communications between journalists and their sources.
Forward secrecy: Forward secrecy is a property of certain secure communication protocols that ensures session keys are not compromised even if the private keys of the server are compromised in the future. This means that even if an adversary can access the long-term secret key of a server, they cannot decrypt past sessions, thereby enhancing the confidentiality and integrity of communications. It plays a crucial role in maintaining source protection and anonymity by safeguarding sensitive information exchanged during journalistic investigations.
Metadata management: Metadata management refers to the processes and technologies used to manage and maintain metadata, which is data that provides information about other data. This concept is essential for ensuring the proper organization, discovery, and use of data in various applications, especially when it comes to protecting sources and maintaining their anonymity. By effectively managing metadata, journalists can safeguard sensitive information and enhance the security of their sources.
Metadata removal: Metadata removal is the process of deleting hidden information associated with digital files, such as images, documents, and videos, that can reveal details about the file's origin, editing history, and user data. This practice is essential for ensuring privacy and protecting the identities of sources in investigative reporting, as it prevents unintended exposure of sensitive information that could compromise anonymity.
Physical document security: Physical document security refers to the measures and techniques used to protect physical documents from unauthorized access, theft, destruction, or loss. This is crucial for maintaining the confidentiality of sensitive information and ensuring that sources remain protected in investigative reporting. Effective physical document security encompasses various strategies such as secure storage, controlled access, and destruction methods to safeguard documents throughout their lifecycle.
Redaction: Redaction is the process of editing or preparing a document for publication by removing or obscuring sensitive information. This technique ensures that confidential data is protected while still allowing for the information to be shared in a meaningful way. It plays a vital role in safeguarding source identities and maintaining anonymity in sensitive contexts, as well as in the careful analysis and interpretation of documents, where certain details may need to be concealed to protect individuals or organizations involved.
Secure communication methods: Secure communication methods are techniques used to protect the confidentiality, integrity, and authenticity of information shared between parties. These methods are critical in safeguarding sensitive information, especially in contexts where source protection and anonymity are paramount. Utilizing these techniques helps prevent unauthorized access, interception, or manipulation of data, which is essential for journalists who rely on the trust and safety of their sources.
Secure drop boxes: Secure drop boxes are physical or digital platforms that allow individuals to anonymously submit information or documents to journalists while protecting their identity. These systems are vital in fostering a safe environment for whistleblowers and sources, enabling them to share sensitive information without fear of reprisal. By using secure drop boxes, journalists can maintain the confidentiality of their sources, which is crucial in investigative reporting.
Signal Protocol: The Signal Protocol is a cryptographic protocol designed to provide secure end-to-end encryption for messaging and voice communication. It is widely recognized for its ability to protect user privacy, ensuring that only the intended recipients can read messages or listen to calls, making it essential for techniques aimed at protecting sources and maintaining anonymity.
Source protection strategies: Source protection strategies refer to the methods and practices that journalists use to safeguard their sources' identities and information, ensuring their safety and maintaining trust. These strategies are crucial in fostering a free press, as they help protect whistleblowers and other informants from potential retaliation or legal repercussions. Understanding these strategies can enhance the effectiveness of investigations and support ethical reporting.
Tor Network: The Tor Network is a decentralized network designed to enable anonymous communication over the internet. It achieves this by routing internet traffic through a series of volunteer-operated servers, known as relays, which obscure the user's location and online activities. This anonymity is particularly important for individuals seeking to protect their identity and maintain privacy while accessing sensitive information or communicating with others.
Two-factor authentication: Two-factor authentication (2FA) is a security process that requires two different forms of identification to access an account or system, enhancing protection against unauthorized access. This method combines something you know (like a password) with something you have (like a mobile device) to create an additional layer of security, making it much harder for attackers to compromise sensitive information.
VPNs: A VPN, or Virtual Private Network, is a service that creates a secure and encrypted connection over a less secure network, like the internet. By using a VPN, individuals can protect their online activities and maintain their privacy, making it an essential tool for ensuring source protection and anonymity when gathering sensitive information or communicating with sources.