Some unofficial tips.
In general, missionaries are quite open with sharing their stories and the details of their daily ministry. In fact, the purpose of this "toolkit" is to help you do just that. However, some missionaries work in insecure areas where they will need to not only refrain from the public sharing of their story, they may also need to protect their private communications.
Five Habits for secure private communications
(Derived from recommendations for journalists working in very oppressive countries where their source's lives might be at stake.*)
- Encrypt your computer (and use a strong password)
- Use malware/spyware protection software
- Connect to the internet via a VPN (Virtual Private Network)
- Do your mission business inside of Office365, and clear your browser history
- Do not log on in public places
*A really thorough guide to secure communications for journalists:
Strong passwords.
While passwords and passphrases essentially serve the same purpose – providing access to secure services or sensitive information – passwords are generally short, hard to remember, and easier to crack. Passphrases are easier to remember and type. They are considered more secure due to the overall length of the passphrase (and because they might contain spaces between the words). Since they are easier to remember, a passphrase should not need to be written down - making it safer than a password left lying around on a scrap of paper or a note on your computer.
The best passphrases for your encrypted hardware (This is geeky, but cool).
How to erase yourself from the internet.
Short answer: (it’s not 100% possible. But there’s some things you can do)
Our digital world becomes ever more entangled, and regardless of if you have been freely sharing over the years, or deliberately trying not to show up in a Google search, you will likely find at least some trace of your presence online and pubic to the world.
How to delete things from the internet: a guide to doing the impossible
Delete things from Google Search with Google’s URL Removal Tool
Encrypt your hard drive
Mac
VPNs
Browsers
Firefox and private browsing mode: Private Browsing automatically erases your browsing information, such as passwords, cookies and history, leaving no trace when you close out.