Minimizing Risk: How to Be Secure on Twitter and Other Social Networks

Last week’s news that the passwords of every Twitter user around the world had been exposed in plain text is a stark reminder of the sometimes-fragile nature of security in the online places we trust with our personal information.

In this latest example, Twitter says it was a technical error that led to the exposure of the passwords of the social network’s 330 million users. Twitter also says it’s fixed the bug and has no evidence that anyone’s accounts have been breached or misused.

While the error led to exposure only within Twitter’s internal systems, the social network has urged everyone to change their passwords anyway.

“Out of an abundance of caution, we ask that you consider changing your password on all services where you’ve used this password. You can change your Twitter password anytime by going to the password settings page.”

It’s sound advice, and it’s a step we have taken at the Internet Society with our own social media channels.

Yet, you may wonder what the point is in changing your password if a mistake like this can happen. If it happened once, surely it can happen again.

Yes, it could, there’s no doubt. We have compelling Continue reading

Shine the Light: Six Women Making a Difference

This International Women’s Day, we’re boosting the profiles of incredible women around the world who are pushing boundaries using technology – and we encourage you to do the same!

Last month, during Safer Internet Day – a call to action for everyone to play their part in creating a better Internet for everyone – women in the Internet Society’s 25 Under 25 group, using just their smartphones to record video, answered the question, “What does a safer Internet mean to me?”

Watch the videos, explore the different ways these young women are using technology to shape tomorrow, then Shine The Light on some of the incredible women you know who are making an impact. Join the #ShineTheLight tweet chat with @SIGWomenISOC on March 8th… then join SIG Women!

Poornima Meegammana (Sri Lanka)
“A safer Internet to me is a place where a girl’s voice can be heard without harassment.”

Mary Helda Akongo (Uganda)
“To me, a safer Internet would be a place that is free and safe for me to have my voice heard, a place where I can share my creative content, share my opinions and my thoughts without ridicule, backlash and hate from different people Continue reading