Carantes is an international network of activists. As such, we operate mostly online and it is vital that we navigate the digital ecosystem safely – particularly as data is being increasingly used to find people adhering to left-wing ideologies. That’s us! So here are some tools to stay safe.
Virtual Private Networks
First, a VPN is a good idea. Some are free, but remember this important principle of being online: if the product is free, you are probably what is being sold! This doesn’t mean you should shun any free service, but be careful and investigate before you give them your data. Some signs to look out for that a piece of software or online service is trustworthy : are they open source, meaning is their code out in the open for all to see, often on a platform called Github? If so, that’s a good sign! It means it’s much harder for the creator to sneak data scrapers into their code.
A VPN protects your online privacy by hiding your real IP address and encrypts your internet traffic so you can browse privately, avoid being tracked across the internet, and stop your browsing data from being sold to advertisers.
We like Proton VPN, which has a free version with limited but functional features – if you’re just looking to erase your digital footprint, it’s a good place to start! And this is not a sponsored post, we genuinely use and enjoy this product.
We will add more suggestions as we go! And if you have any you find essential, feel free to share them with us. Who keeps us safe?
We keep us safe!
CARANTES 