What can I do to ensure my safety and anonymity online?

Through the email support service, you exchange intimate and confidential information about yourself with our counsellors under certain conditions.
On our end, we implement all possible technical measures to protect your data. However, it is also essential that you actively contribute to its security.

The following tips may be helpful, especially if you are using a computer that is accessible to others.

Choosing a secure pseudonym

To guarantee your anonymity, we recommend choosing a pseudonym that reveals nothing about your identity (first name, last name, location, date of birth, etc.) and that you do not use on other platforms (e.g. Facebook, Instagram, forums, chats, etc.).
If you use the same pseudonym and password across multiple websites, a data leak on one of them could compromise the confidentiality of all your communications. This also applies to your email address: it is best to use one created specifically for this service.

A secure password

Choose a strong password that is difficult to guess. It should contain at least 8 characters, including uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters (?!%+…).
Avoid obvious passwords like “sosdetresse”, “123456” or personal data like your date of birth.
If possible, do not write down your password on paper, and never share it with anyone.
Also, make sure to secure access to your devices (computer, smartphone, tablet) with a password or code.

Be careful with password managers

Many web browsers offer to save your login details and passwords.
If other people can access your computer or device, we strongly advise against saving your password for the email support service.
You can also completely disable this function in your browser settings.

Remember to log out

Don’t forget to log out after each use of the email support service by clicking the designated button.
If you stay logged in, someone else using the same device could easily access your account and your conversations.

Keep everything updated

All software, including web browsers, can have security vulnerabilities.
Updates fix these flaws. Therefore, it is essential to keep your operating system, browser, and applications up to date to strengthen your security.

Adopt a cautious attitude

Taking a cautious and informed approach is essential to ensure your safety and anonymity online.
Protecting your personal data also means taking care of yourself.

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More information and advice about your computer, internet security, and data protection can be found at www.bee-secure.lu/fr.