Cybersecurity for Survivors: Honoring Two Awareness Months

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October is an important month for Safety Net, a project of the National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV). That’s because it has TWO themes related to our work!

  • Domestic Violence Awareness Month: A time to raise awareness about domestic violence. We highlight the strength and resilience of survivors and work toward ending abuse. It’s also a moment to recognize the advocates and organizations making a difference while encouraging communities to step up and support those affected by this issue.

  • Cybersecurity Awareness Month: A time to educate the public about online safety and empower individuals to protect their personal and sensitive information. It is also a reminder that the safety of the digital world is a responsibility we should all share.

As we rely more on technology in our daily lives, we should also be aware of the risks of using the Internet. These can include: 

  • Privacy invasion;

  • Impersonation;

  • Stalking;

  • Deepfakes (images created by Artificial Intelligence (AI)); and

  • Many more.

These risks can make people feel like they have to avoid being online. This may be difficult for many of us because so much of our lives depends on technology. Safety Net believes that survivors have a right to access and use technology safely. “Just get rid of the tech” is not a solution that works. Tech can open the world for survivors if they are isolated by an abuser. It can help if they are disconnected due to their geographic location. For some, particularly in marginalized groups, the internet may be a safer or easier way to connect to others. For instance:

  • d/Deaf people;

  • Autistic people;

  • Visibly gender non-conforming people;

  • People who are immunocompromised (get sick more easily);

  • Survivors on an abuser's phone plan; and

  • Others.

In honor of this month, we’ve put together a few tips and resources.

 

Password Safety

Most of us know that we need strong passwords. But many of us don’t know what makes a strong password. Even if we do, we may not know how to keep track of our passwords. We may also not realize that there are other steps we can take to strengthen our password security. You can learn more about this topic in Passwords: Increasing Your Security.

 

Securing Devices & Accounts

According to Pew, "The vast majority of Americans–97%–now own a cellphone of some kind, with nine-in-ten owning a smartphone. This is a significant increase from just 35% in Pew Research Center’s first survey of smartphone ownership conducted in 2011." This shows how quickly the use of connected devices has grown and how essential technology is to everyday life.

Many of us have so many connected devices. For example:

  • Smartphones;

  • Laptops;

  • Tablets;

  • Smart home devices;

  • Connected cars;

  • Fitness watches; and

  • Many others.

We also use many apps and services online. Examples of these could be:

  • Social media;

  • Music apps;

  • Dating apps;

  • Bikeshare or carshare accounts;

  • Mobile banking; and

  • A Google or Apple account.

Each of these might carry cybersecurity concerns. It's hard to know where to start! Fear of what an abuser or stalker might do can make it even harder. You might not be sure how to secure your tech without them noticing. We wrote Securing Devices & Accounts to help. You can also use tools for a particular product. An example is Safety Check on iPhone.

 

Safer Online Finance

Many of us use tech to manage our money. This is called “fintech” or financial technology. Fintech is everywhere. You might have used some of these to manage your money:

  • CashApp;

  • Chime;

  • Venmo;

  • PayPal;

  • Your bank's app or site;

  • Your credit card's app or site; and

  • Any app or site where you pay for something online.

With the growing convenience of fintech, it is important that we are aware of the benefits and risks. Ninety-nine percent of survivors experience some kind of financial abuse. This can include identity theft and forced debt, among others. Financial Abuse and Technology has tips for securing your finances.

By staying informed and building awareness around these issues, we can make the digital world a safer one for us all.

All our survivor resources are in our Survivor Toolkit. Browse and check out the ones most relevant to you. Happy October!