The Women’s Technology Safety & Privacy Toolkit, created by the Safety Net Australia Project at WESNET, is for women experiencing tech abuse to learn how they can increase their technology safety and privacy. This toolkit includes resource guides ranging from online privacy and safety tips to smartphone privacy and location safety information, and much more.

COVID-19

• COVIDSafe App: advice for survivors

General Technology Safety

• Is Tech Abuse Happening to You?
• Technology Safety Plan
• Documentation Tips for Survivors of Technology Abuse and Stalking
• Assessing for Technology Abuse and Privacy
• Video: how to take a screenshot on a computer and smartphone
• Dealing with harassing calls, texts, and messages
• 10 Easy Steps to Maximise Privacy
• Stalking and Technology-Facilitated Abuse Log

Online Safety & Privacy

Browsers and Wi-Fi

• Internet Browser Privacy Tips
• Public Wi-Fi Security Tips
• WiFi Safety & Privacy: Tips for Victim Service Agencies and Survivors (link to our sister site, NNEDV)

General Online Privacy and Security

• Online misogyny and abuse
• Being Web Wise
• Increasing Privacy and Security when Using Google
• Online Privacy and Safety Tips
• Password Safety [*REVISED & UPDATED*]
• Tips for Secure Email

Nonconsensual Sharing of Intimate Images

• Image-Based Abuse

Gaming

• Online gaming: Survivor Privacy, Risk and Strategies [*UPDATED*]

Social Media & Online Dating

• Online Dating Safety Guide (by Tinder and WESNET) [*NEW*]
• Facebook Privacy & Safety: A Guide for Survivors of Abuse (by Facebook and WESNET)
• Safe and Strong: An LGBTQ+ Guide to Facebook and Instagram (by ACON and Facebook) [*NEW*]
• Privacy Considerations when Posting Content Online

Guides by Social Media Platforms and other Technology Companies that may be useful

• Safety@Facebook
• What’s App Safety Tools
• Instagram Safety Centre
• Safety & Privacy on Twitter: A guide for survivors of harassment and abuse
• Uber Safety Guide in collaboration with WESNET

Smartphones

Device Privacy and Security Guides

• Android privacy and security guide
• iPhone privacy and security guide

Smartphone Tips

• Safely setting up and activating a phone or device [*NEW*]
• Apple Safety Check Feature [*NEW*]
• Apple Personal Safety User Guide [*NEW*]
• 12 Safety tips for Smartphones

Devices and Hardware

• Computer and Laptop Security Tips
• Securing Your Home Wi-Fi Network/Router
• Smart Devices and Internet of Things
• Smart Toys & Location Tracking: Privacy & Safety Concerns with Children & Pets [*NEW*]
• Connected Cars & Driverless Vehicles Safety & Privacy Concerns [*NEW*]
• Connected Health & Medical Devices: Survivor Privacy, Risks & Strategies [*NEW*]
• Video: Device Security (by 1800RESPECT)

Digital Financial Security (with CommBank Next Chapter)

In partnership with CommBank we developed resources on technology-facilitated financial abuse. This type of abuse occurs when technology is used as a tool by the abuser to gain and maintain power and control over another person’s finances. Our resources explore how to identify technology-facilitated financial or economic abuse and the steps individuals can take to increase their digital financial security.

• Digital Financial Security
• How to secure your digital finances
• Beyond Basics: increasing the security of your digital finances
• Digital Financial Security and Relationships

These resources and many more about financial abuse can be found on the CommBank Financial Abuse Resource Centre.

Apps (for smartphones and tablets)

Visit the App Safety Centre for more on mobile apps developed for survivors experiencing domestic violence or sexual assault. This toolkit contains information for survivors, practitioners, and app developers.

• App Safety Centre

Videos

At WESNET we are passionate about tech safety education and empowering women to take back control of their tech. We’ve created this short series of videos to answer some of the most common questions we receive on tech safety from the women we work with.