This is Ethiopian Review Policy Research Center’s series on From Dictatorship to Democracy extracted/quoted from books and articles published by Albert Einstein Institution and similar sources.

Digital Cameras

• Keep the number of sensitive pictures on your camera to a minimum.
• Add plenty of random non-threatening pictures (not of individuals) and have these safe pictures locked so when you do a “delete all” these pictures stay on the card.
• Keep the battery out of the camera when not in use so it can’t be turned on by others.
• Practice taking pictures without having to look at the view screen.

Computers/Laptops

• Use passphrases for all your sensitive data.
• Keep your most sensitive files on flash disks and find safe places to hide them.
• Have a contingency plan to physically destroy or get rid of your computer at short notice.

Flash disks

• Purchase flash disks that don’t look like flash disks.
• Keep flash disks hidden.

Email communication

• Use code.
• Use passphrases instead of passwords and change them regularly.
• Use letters, numbers and other characters to make them “c0mpLeX!”.
• Do not use personal information and changer your passphrases each month. Do not use the same password for multiple sites.
• Never use real names for email addresses and use multiple addresses.
• Discard older email accounts on a regular basis and create new ones.
• Know the security, safety and privacy policies of providers and monitor any chances (see terms of service tracker).

Browsers and websites

• Turn off java and other potentially malicious add-ons.
• Learn IP addresses of visited websites so that history shows only numbers and not names.
• When browsing on a public computer, delete your private data (search history, passwords, etc.) before you leave.
• When signing up for an account where you will be publishing sensitive media, do not use your personal email address and don’t give personal information.
• Don’t download any software from pop-ups, they may be malicious and attack your computer or record your actions online.
• Do not be logged in to any sensitive site while having another site open.

VoiP

• Just because your talking online doesn’t mean you are not under surveillance.
• As with a cell or landline, use code do not give salient details about your activities, and do not make incriminating statements.
• Remember that your online activities can be surveilled using offline techniques. It doesn’t matter if you are using encrypted VOIP at a cyber cafe if the person next to you is an under-cover police officer.
• When possible, do not make sensitive VOIP calls in a cyber cafe. It is simply too easy for someone to overhear you. If you must, use code that doesn’t stand out.

To view the template for toppling a tyrant DIVISION OF RESPONSIBILITIES FOR SELF-LIBERATION