By Enock Sithole
Journalists likely spend a lot of time online doing research, and with ever-increasing rates of cybercrime, the dangers they face in the digital world are innumerable, says Cybersecurity & Tech Writer, RF Lucca in a recently published Ultimate Guide to Online Privacy for Journalists.
Lucca warns that “without the proper protection from online threats, you risk hackers stealing confidential information, exposing your personal details and that of your sources, breaking anonymity, and getting hold of your unpublished stories. You’d be a prime victim for blackmail – or worse”.
Citing UNESCO’s Observatory of Killed Journalists, Lucca said: “Over 1 700 journalists have been killed since 1993. A large portion of these journalists have been murdered in non-conflict zones rather than within conflict zones.
“Being based in a non-conflict zone no longer assures your safety like it used to. Working online from behind a screen can’t guarantee you’ll be protected either. Out of all the journalists killed since 2018, those working in online media make up a significant 21% of deaths”.
As the journalism industry continues to move from print to digital platforms, he says, it’s imperative to one’s well-being – and that of one’s colleagues and sources – to put the appropriate online privacy safeguards in place.
The guide provides ways in which journalists can protect themselves and their sources in the digital space. The guide can be reached here. Click here to read more about the subject of journalism and cyber threats.