Information Security Essentials - by Susan E McGregor (Hardcover)

About the Book

"In the nearly seven years since the Snowden revelations, information security concerns for news organizations and members of the press have only intensified worldwide. In the United States, a record-breaking number of whistleblower prosecutions under the Obama administration has been followed by outright aggression towards the press from the Trump presidency. Globally, information requests, imprisonment, and surveillance of journalists are at an all-time high. In Information Security Essentials, Susan McGregor provides an accurate and accessible understanding of the key issues and approaches for thinking about and building information security into journalistic practice. Aimed at students, working journalists, and media organizations, the book lays out the principles of information security that will allow journalists to undertake important and, at times, risky work. McGregor builds on years of original academic research, interviews with dozens of journalists, editors and information security experts, and first-hand experience with the tools and techniques described. The book serves both as an introduction and reference for anyone wishing to improve the security of their information and information-gathering in order to protect themselves, their colleagues, their sources, and their stories. Topics discuss include the legal and technological contexts of information security, threat modeling and attack trees, working internationally, developing an institutional culture of security, the impact of misinformation, and online harassment"--

Book Synopsis

As technological and legal changes have hollowed out the protections that reporters and news organizations have depended upon for decades, information security concerns facing journalists as they report, produce, and disseminate the news have only intensified. From source prosecutions to physical attacks and online harassment, the last two decades have seen a dramatic increase in the risks faced by journalists at all levels even as the media industry confronts drastic cutbacks in budgets and staff. As a result, few professional or aspiring journalists have a comprehensive understanding of what is required to keep their sources, stories, colleagues, and reputations safe.

This book is an essential guide to protecting news writers, sources, and organizations in the digital era. Susan E. McGregor provides a systematic understanding of the key technical, legal, and conceptual issues that anyone teaching, studying, or practicing journalism should know. Bringing together expert insights from both leading academics and security professionals who work at and with news organizations from BuzzFeed to the Associated Press, she lays out key principles and approaches for building information security into journalistic practice. McGregor draws on firsthand experience as a Wall Street Journal staffer, followed by a decade of researching, testing, and developing information security tools and practices. Filled with practical but evergreen advice that can enhance the security and efficacy of everything from daily beat reporting to long-term investigative projects, Information Security Essentials is a vital tool for journalists at all levels.

Review Quotes

Susan E. McGregor has written a crucial resource for working journalists, journalism students, and anyone curious about the many sides of digital security. Her clear explanations and practical guidance mean that reporters are no longer paralyzed by fear of digital intrusions and instead have concrete strategies and plans to apply to a variety of projects.--Sarah Cohen, Knight Chair in Data Journalism at the Cronkite School of Journalism and winner of the Pulitzer Prize in Investigative Reporting

McGregor takes a complex subject and makes it both accessible and actionable. In Information Security Essentials, you'll find important background information, case studies, and guidance from experts willing to share the secrets they have learned along the way. An invaluable resource for media professionals and cybersecurity experts alike.--Runa Sandvik, security researcher

McGregor takes an honest and often unflinching look at how emerging practices have come to bear on digital security, and in a way that is always one step ahead of the curve.--Harlo Holmes, director of digital security at Freedom of the Press Foundation

Susan E. McGregor has written the essential book on security for journalists. From source protection to device security to encryption and conflict reporting, this book covers everything that modern journalists need to stay safe online and IRL. Technology changes fast, but McGregor blends basic security concepts with a nuanced understanding of tech to give journalists timeless advice that can be adapted as the tech evolves.--Meredith Broussard, author of Artificial Unintelligence: How Computers Misunderstand the World

About the Author

Susan E. McGregor is an associate research scholar at Columbia University's Data Science Institute, where she also cochairs the Center for Data, Media, and Society. She was previously the assistant director of the Tow Center for Digital Journalism and a full-time faculty member at Columbia Journalism School and senior programmer on the news graphics team at the Wall Street Journal.