Accra: Journalists and whistleblowers have been urged to adopt stronger digital security measures to protect their data, communications, and sources from surveillance and cyber threats. The call was made during a two-day Digital Security Training Workshop, organised by the Whistleblowers and Journalists Safety International Center (WAJSIC) in Accra.

According to Ghana News Agency, the training, led by Mr. Oliver Linow, a Digital Security Expert with Deutsche Welle (DW), introduced participants to practical tools and techniques for enhancing their online safety. The workshop focused on threat modelling, account protection, and secure communication, equipping participants with skills to identify and mitigate digital risks.

Participants learned how to create stronger passwords, use multi-factor authentication, and manage credentials through password managers such as KeePass and Bitwarden. They were also introduced to secure messaging platforms like Signal and Telegram Secret Chats, with discussions on how metadata exposure on popular apps like WhatsApp could compromise users even when messages were encrypted.

Mr. Linow highlighted that journalists are increasingly becoming targets of phishing, surveillance, and spyware attacks, particularly those covering sensitive or investigative topics. In an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), he urged media workers to “treat their digital safety as seriously as their physical safety,” emphasizing that “simple measures like regular software updates, strong authentication, and encrypted communication can make the difference between safety and exposure.”

Mr. Anas Aremeyaw Anas, the Owner and Founder of WAJSIC, discussed some of the dangers he faced in his line of work as an investigative journalist, indicating that he was subjected to near-killing incidents, as well as hard drugs and cyber-attacks. He encouraged journalists to have backups, change their routines, and be careful about how and where they ate.

He advised that they build strong relationships with security personnel to safeguard themselves in times of investigations, explaining that a backup could be a friend, an officer from the security service, or a colleague journalist who truly understands their work.