Here's information about a couple of upcoming digital privacy workshops in the Boston area. They are both free and open to the public.

DIY Feminist Cybersecurity Workshop, hosted by the Safe Hub Collective

Sunday, February 15, 2015

2-4PM

Fields Corner Business Lab | 1452 Dorchester Ave, 4th Floor, Dorchester, MA

Digital spaces are routinely threatened by gendered, racialized, queerphobic, transphobic, ableist, and classist abuse + manipulation. Often ignored or dismissed, these threats present very real repercussions for the communities who rely on these spaces for socializing, work, education, and personal development. We reject digital violence: you have a right to access and enjoy digital spaces! In our DIY Feminist Cybersecurity Workshop, we'll walk through simple tools and strategies that will allow you to make personal, informed decisions on how to take greater control of your privacy and data in digital spaces. All experience levels are welcome! We will also provide a comprehensive online guide covering all of the tech we recommend in the workshop.

After the workshop will be optional time to install and configure some of the tools discussed in the workshop. Because let's be real: installing things is boring, we're all busy, and doing this stuff on our own time is a pain! You might as well get a few important things done while you're here.

 

Protecting Your Online Privacy, hosted by the Library Freedom Project

Saturday, February 21, 2015

Somerville Public Library, Central Library | 79 Highland Avenue, Somerville, MA

11-3PM

Worried about how much of your personal information Google, Facebook, and other online software providers have collected? Concerned about overbroad government surveillance programs hoovering up your private data? Uneasy about criminal hackers who might seek to exploit you? Our online privacy is indeed under threat, but the good news is that there are technology tools to help us fight back. Alison Macrina, a librarian and privacy rights activist, will present an online privacy toolkit that
offers solutions to help subvert digital spying. These tools address things like search tracking, encryption, password protection, secure deletion of temporary files, secure browsing, online anonymity, and more. This class is appropriate for all levels of technical ability.

Bring your laptop to get the most out of it! You may bring a mobile device, like a smartphone or tablet, but please be aware that the focus of this class will primarily be on desktop software.