Security

Computer security and the lack of computer security is a fundamental issue that underpins much of how the Internet does (and doesn't) function. Many of the policy issues that EFF works on are linked to security in deep ways including privacy and anonymity, DRM, censorship, and network neutrality. EFF works directly on a wide range of security issues including increased deployment of cryptographic protocols through projects like Certbot; improving the security of those protocols; offering legal assistance to researchers through our Coders' Rights Project; offering practical security advice to activists through the surveillance self-defense project; and working on the development of new security standards.

Security Topics

●State-Sponsored Malware ●2g ●Computer Fraud And Abuse Act Reform ●Election Security ●Electronic Frontier Alliance ●Encrypting the Web ●Government Hacking and Subversion of Digital Security ●Security Education ●SOPA/PIPA: Internet Blacklist Legislation

Security Highlights

Issues

Encrypting the Web

The web has largely switched from non-secure HTTP to the more secure HTTPS protocol. All web servers use one of these two protocols to get web pages from the server to your browser. HTTP has serious problems that make it vulnerable to eavesdropping and content hijacking. HTTPS fixes most of... Banner Graphic:

Resource

Surveillance Self-Defense

Description: Surveillance Self-Defense is EFF's online guide to defending yourself and your friends from surveillance by using secure technology and developing careful practices.

Issues

Coders' Rights Project

EFF's Coders' Rights Project protects programmers and developers engaged in cutting-edge exploration of technology. Security and encryption researchers help build a safer future for all of us using digital technologies, but too many legitimate researchers face serious legal challenges that prevent or inhibit their work. These challenges come from laws...

Security Updates

A hand holding a cellphone showing a verification screen and ACCESS DENIED in the background.

Deeplinks Blog byErica Portnoy | January 14, 2026

So, You’ve Hit an Age Gate. What Now?

EFF is against age gating and age verification mandates, and we hope we’ll win in getting existing ones overturned and new ones prevented. But mandates are already in effect, and every day many people are asked to verify their age across the web, despite prominent cases of sensitive data getting...

Bullhorn with "2025 Year in Review" coming out of it in bold letters

Deeplinks Blog byThorin Klosowski | January 1, 2026

Surveillance Self-Defense: 2025 Year in Review

Our Surveillance Self-Defense (SSD) guides, which provide practical advice and explainers for how to deal with government and corporate surveillance, had a big year. We published several large updates to existing guides and released three all new guides. And with frequent massive protests across the U.S., our guide to attending...

Deeplinks Blog byDaly Barnett | December 29, 2025

Operations Security (OPSEC) Trainings: 2025 in Review

It's no secret that digital surveillance and other tech-enabled oppressions are acute dangers for liberation movement workers. The rising tides of tech-fueled authoritarianism and hyper-surveillance are universal themes across the various threat models we consider. EFF's Surveillance Self-Defense project is a vital antidote to these threats, but it's not...

woman holding phone with stalker message

Deeplinks Blog byEva Galperin | November 6, 2025

EFF Teams Up With AV Comparatives to Test Android Stalkerware Detection by Major Antivirus Apps

EFF has, for many years, raised the alarm about the proliferation of stalkerware—commercially-available apps designed to be installed covertly on another person’s device to exfiltrate data from that device without their knowledge. We’ve teamed up with the researchers at AV Comparatives to test the most popular anti-virus products for Android...

Deeplinks Blog byCooper Quintin | September 3, 2025

EFF Statement on ICE Use of Paragon Solutions Malware

This statement can be attributed to EFF Senior Staff Technologist Cooper QuintinIt was recently reported by Jack Poulson on Substack that ICE has reactivated its 2 million dollar contract with Paragon Solutions, a cyber-mercenary and spyware manufacturer. The reactivation of the contract between the Department of Homeland Security...

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