eff.org

07/24/2024

1. Knowledge is Power

Good security decisions begin with proper knowledge about your own situation. To start, ask yourself the following questions:

• What do I want to protect?
• Who do I want to protect it from?
• How likely is it that I’ll need to protect it?
• How bad are the consequences if it doesn’t work out?
• How much trouble am I willing to go through to try to prevent potential consequences?

Once you answer these questions you can better assess your digital security needs andcreate a security plan (sometimes called a threat model). You already have more power than you think!

2. The Weakest Link

The old adage that “a chain is only as strong as its weakest link” applies to security too. For example, the best door lock is worthless if you have cheap window latches. Similarly, using an encrypted chat app to share personal photos won’t protect the confidentiality of those photos if you store unencrypted copies on your laptop and your laptop is stolen. Think about every part of your information and computer use and try to identify any weak links in your digital security practices.