Skip to content

Democrats Abroad - Security Best Practices

DA Security Checklists

Recommendations for Democrats Abroad Leaders and Volunteers to improve your personal digital security and privacy practices – and to help you keep DA-related data secure. Use these DA Security Checklists as a self-assessment of your personal security status. We suggest you review your security score every 6-months or so. – Let us know how we can improve the site!

How To Complete the Checklists:

  1. Start with the "Critical Top-Five" link below.
  2. Check off the items that you actively practice – the Progress-bar will show your status towards completion.
  3. The menu on the left lists all available Checklist Topics.
  4. We encourage you to complete all of the "Critical" and "Essential" items under each topic.

Critical Top-Five

  •   Critical Top-Five

    • On Managing your Passwords, using a Password Manager, 2FA/MFA, and
      verifying your Sources and Recipients


    Critical Top-Five

  •   Progress Tracking (by priority)

    • Critical Items
    • Essential Items
    • Recommended Items
    • Advanced Items

Topic-Grouped Security Checklists

  •   Passwords & Authentication

    • More password management recommendations, and password breach monitoring.


    Authentication

  •   Web Browsing

    • On checking links in your browser, browser settings, and reducing web tracking.


    Web Browsing

  •   E-Mail

    • On using different e-mails for different tasks, do a security checkup, and
      How to share sensitive info.


    E-Mail

  •   Secure Messaging

    • On Secure messaging apps, End-to-End encryption, and avoiding SMS messages.


    Secure Messaging

  •   Social Media

    • On securing your Social Media accounts, the public and permanent nature of your messages, and what not to share.


    Social Media

  •   Home Network Configuration

    • On securing your home network, using a VPN, and managing network access.

    Home Network Configuration

  •   Mobile Devices

    • On securing your mobile devices, keeping OS updated, and when to shut-down your device.


    Mobile Devices

  •   Personal Computers

    • On securing your personal computer / laptop and data, keeping software updated, and using an anti-virus.


    Personal Computers

  •   Personal Finance

    • On Fraud Alert notifications, virtual credit card use, and using cash when possible.


    Personal Finance

  •   Social/Personal Vulnerabilities

    • On watching out for phishing attacks, verifying senders/recipients, and storing data securely.


    Social/Personal Vulnerabilities

Notes on DA Security Checklist website:

  • The checklist progress scores are only stored on your local browser. If you clear your browser cashe, your score will be cleared and you can start over again.
  • No personal data or record of your score is stored by DA.
  • We are using Google Analytics to get a sense of overall usage activity and geographic distribution of users.