Your security is important to us, and we believe that every woman can use her voice to create a free and equitable world. However, speaking about politically charged issues or asking tough questions can put you at risk for intimidation, surveillance, or physical violence.

You should know that World Pulse is not equipped to provide legal protection to online community members facing security threats online or offline. However, we are dedicated to providing our community with tools and knowledge that will help you take steps to protect yourself. Please review and use the tools below!

The top five ways to stay safe online

1. Consider using an alias (pen name) for your username if you are in a country that does not support free speech, or in an environment where your identity may put you at risk for intimidation or violence. Your alias should not be able to be connected to you, so avoid using known nicknames or other names that might alert people to your real identity.

2. Be aware that using a public internet café puts you at a higher risk for surveillance and having your accounts infected with spyware. Spyware is software that can record your key strokes and passwords without you knowing. Always bring your own laptop if possible, and never leave it unattended! If you have to use a public computer, always make sure to log off and change your password often. Click here for additional tips on using public or shared computers.

3. Create strong passwords and change them often. A strong password is hard to guess, but easy for you to remember without writing it down. It should include:

   1. At least 8 characters or more.

   2. Do not use common or easy-to-guess passwords, like "password" or "1234"
   3. A mixture of UPPERCASE and lowercase letters, and numbers.
   4. At least one special character, such as !@#?%​
4. Never post your personal contact information in your public journal.
5. Always log out before leaving any website.