Training on Communication Privacy for NGOs (4 hours)

Keywords: Untraceability and Privacy, Anonymizing Techniques, Protection of personal identifiable information (PII) and other privacy-related issues, Information Security

The aim of the training on communication privacy was to show “how to secure communication in the information society era”. There was a related theoretical session “Communication Privacy” within the framework of the working group on the information society.

We had approximately 15 participants, who were all interested in the subject of information security. We demonstrated how to install a cryptographic program, how to know what information trace is being left and how to track the information that other people have left behind.

Most of the people understood the importance of securing information, including the stunning fact that it might actually be dangerous privacy tools in certain countries, because the government can trace that something is being hidden.

Structure and learning goals

What does communication through information systems mean.

• What kind of traces do we leave on the Net.
• Overview of the different privacy tools available on the Net.
• How to secure communication through email.
• How to secure surfing the Internet.
• Legal constraints of possession and use of privacy tools.

One problem was that we needed more computers without administrative passwords, firewalls or other such restrictions. Ideally we would have needed more time, perhaps four or five days of training, for a more effective workshop.

Coordinator

Stéphane Koch (ISOC – GVA)

Presenters

Alberto Escudero Pascual, researcher at the Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden, focus on Anonymity, Untraceability and Privacy: anonymising techniques, protection of personal identifiable information (PII) and other privacy related issues.

Andy Mueller Maguhn from the "Chaos Computer Club", for more than a decade, the Chaos Computer Club has been a voice for all the hackers in this world.

Georges Danezis, researcher from Queens' College, Cambridge University, specialising in anonymous/pseudonymous communications, networks and protocols.

Stéphane Koch, President of the Internet Society, Geneva chapter, specialising in the infowar and the management of critical information.

You may contact the training coordinator: Stéphane Koch, president@isocgva.ch