NewsBeat

June 2016 NewsBeat 7 into a computer, the hacker can track keystrokes, steal information, and even gain access to critical data stored on your company's servers. The simple solution here is to run a complete scan — firmware and memory — on every USB device before connecting it to your computer. USB drives are also notoriously easy to lose or misplace. Sensitive files, notes, sources and contact information can fall into the wrong hands. Again, there is a simple way to guard your USB drives from potential threat. Every PC or Macintosh computer has a built-in function to encrypt a USB drive. You can access these encryption options by right- clicking (Windows) or from the Finder (Macintosh). In both cases, you will be able to assign a secure password to your USB device, which protects the data on the drive if it's lost or stolen. Consider a New Web Browser As a journalist, you often do your job in open places, where public Wi-Fi connections and roving eyes abound. You rely on your browser software to access critical information on the road, just as you do while in the office or at home. The most popular browsers — including Internet Explorer, Chrome and Firefox — all claim to be secure because they offer a "privacy mode" option and because you can tweak the settings to increase or decrease security levels. At the same time, the popularity of these browsers make them perfect targets for cyber- attackers. Hackers and cybercriminals, for example, recently exposed flaws in Microsoft's Internet Explorer to penetrate computers by discovering what kinds of security software they are running. You might consider switching to one of the newer — less common — browsers, most of which are available at no cost to download and use. They include Tor (torproject.org), Epic (epicbrowser.com), Dragon (comodo.com), and Dooble (dooble.sourceforge.net). Each of these products takes a minimalist approach to Web browsing, where features are stripped out or turned off by default in order to maximize privacy. Cookies and trackers are automatically removed after each session, and no information is collected about each user. Ads are blocked and browser history is disabled by default. And, all searches are proxied through private servers, which means there is no way for a hacker to grab your IP address when searching. For journalists who spend a lot of time in locales where there are open Wi-Fi connections, these new browsers give top priority to finding secure SSL connections wherever possible. If you're not ready to give up your favorite browser, there are also extensions available for Chrome, Firefox, etc. to provide security features that go beyond what's available in the core software. HTTPS Everywhere (eff.org), for example, is a browser plug-in that automatically enforces SSL security whenever you attempt a Wi-Fi connection. It also helps to ensure that you will not be inadvertently redirected to non-HTTPS pages during your browser session. Another option — especially for journalists who are not able to connect to their home servers via VPNs or firewalls — is to install an app that monitors network activity against potential hackers. One such application is Little Snitch, which provides automatic, behind-the-scenes protection against activities that attempt to connect you to outside servers without your knowledge. Little Snitch (obdev.at) is smart enough to know which of your connections are known and trusted, and which ones are potentially fraudulent. If a hacker attempts to penetrate your Mac or PC laptop, Little Snitch will immediately stop the connection and warn you of the possible breach. In closing, please notice what global auditing and advisory firm Grant Thornton said in their own 2015 independent study on cybersecurity and the media industry: "Most companies have not yet made cybersecurity part of their corporate cultures. Information protection must be everyone's responsibility. After all, data security at your company is only as strong as the weakest link in the chain." Over 60 percent of all news media companies we surveyed predicted a cyberattack on their business is likely to occur in 2016. It's important to remember that every journalist is the first line of defense against those who would seek to silence or control your editorial voice. With this in mind, consider the three examples above as quick wins that every journalist can implement right away. We'd love to get your comments on any other tips and tactics you are using to help ensure your own personal cybersecurity. Peter Marsh is the VP Marketing, Newscycle Solutions. Daily Miracle 2.0 discusses the challenges, opportunities, trends and technologies impacting news media companies in the evolution from daily ink-on-paper products to round-the-clock digital offerings delivered in print, online, on tablets, and across mobile and emerging channels. — Reprinted from Editor & Publisher

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