Page 40 - Cyber Warnings December 2015

Opsec shop talk with Edward Snowden

By Anna Wehberg, Sr. Marketing Director, Hexis Cyber Solutions

Whatever one's opinion on the National
Security Agency's most well-known former
contractor, cybersecurity pros will likely be
interested to hear what Edward Snowden
has to say about operational security.

Opsec tips from one of the world's most
wanted
The whistleblower recently sat down in
Moscow for yet another media interview. But
this one was different because the reporter on the case, Micah Lee of The Intercept, chose to focus
on the geeky details of personal cybersecurity.

"In most of Snowden's interviews he speaks broadly about the importance of privacy, surveillance
reform, and encryption," wrote Lee. "But he rarely has the opportunity to delve into the details and
help people of all technical backgrounds understand opsec and begin to strengthen their own
security and privacy. He and I mutually agreed that our interview would focus more on nerdy
computer talk and less on politics."

It's important to note that Lee and The Intercept do not aim at neutrally presenting arguments for
and against privacy. The publication takes a marked pro-privacy stance, one at odds with those at
many governmental or business organizations. That said, it is enlightening to hear
Snowden's practical advice, even down to which apps to use.

Snowden remains one of the most wanted men on the planet. He faces espionage charges in the
U.S. after disclosing an enormous cache of classified data that exposed government surveillance
programs.

Snowden recommends Signal, Tor
His first recommendation for someone wishing to leave no trace of their communications and
activities? Encrypt your phone and text messages. Specifically, Snowden touted the smartphone
app Signal.

"It's free, and you can just download it immediately," Snowden told Lee. "And anybody you're talking
to now, their communications, if it's intercepted, can't be read by adversaries."

As far as Internet browsing and instant messaging, Snowden recommends Tor, a free application
that aims to allow its users to prevent "network surveillance and traffic analysis" of their activities.

40 Cyber Warnings E-Magazine – December 2015 Edition
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