Digital Resilience Blog Series
Introduction
This proposal outlines a comprehensive 20-week blog series on digital resilience for the Initiative for Literacy in a Digital Age blog (https://initiativeforliteracy.org/blog/). Building upon existing posts on digital resilience introduction and privacy fatigue, this series will help readers understand and implement practical privacy and security measures in today's challenging digital landscape.
The series is designed with beginners in mind, gradually building their knowledge and skills through a mix of theoretical understanding and practical how-to guides. Drawing inspiration from Michael Bazzell's "Extreme Privacy" concepts but adapting them to be more accessible, this series will empower your readers to take control of their digital lives.
Key Terms and Concepts
To ensure clarity throughout the series, we've defined several foundational terms that will be explored in depth:
Privacy
Privacy refers to an individual's right to control their personal information and determine how it is collected, used, and shared. In the digital context, privacy involves the ability to navigate online spaces without unwanted surveillance, data collection, or exposure of personal details.
Security
Security refers to the protection of digital systems, networks, and data from unauthorized access, damage, or theft. While privacy is about control over information sharing, security is about safeguarding that information from threats.
Encryption
Encryption is a process that converts readable data (plaintext) into a scrambled format (ciphertext) that can only be decoded and read by someone with the correct decryption key. It's a fundamental security technique that protects information from being understood if intercepted.
Digital Resilience
Digital resilience is the ability to anticipate, withstand, recover from, and adapt to adverse digital events, ranging from technical failures to deliberate attacks. It encompasses both technical capabilities and human behaviors that enable continued functioning in the face of digital challenges.
Threat Model
A threat model is a personalized assessment of the potential risks to your privacy and security based on your specific situation, vulnerabilities, and the value of your information to potential adversaries.
Additional terms defined in the full key_terms.md document include Digital Footprint, Data Broker, End-to-End Encryption (E2EE), and Two-Factor Authentication (2FA).
Blog Series Outline
Part 1: Foundations of Digital Resilience (Already Published)
- Introduction to digital resilience
- Why digital resilience matters in today's world
- Overview of the series
Part 2: Understanding Privacy Fatigue (Already Published)
- Definition and causes of privacy fatigue
- Impact on behavior and security practices
- Strategies for managing privacy fatigue
Part 3: Demystifying Privacy, Security, and Encryption
- Clear definitions of key terms for beginners
- How these concepts work together
- Why understanding these distinctions matters
- Common misconceptions debunked
Part 4: Creating Your Personal Threat Model
- What is threat modeling and why it matters
- How to assess your personal digital risks
- Identifying what you need to protect and from whom
- Practical worksheet for creating your own threat model
Part 5: Understanding Your Digital Footprint
- What makes up your digital footprint
- How to discover what information exists about you online
- Tools to visualize and understand your digital presence
- The surprising ways your data is collected and used
Part 6: Password Management Fundamentals
- Why password security remains critical
- Creating strong, unique passwords
- Introduction to password managers
- Step-by-step guide to setting up a password manager
Part 7: Securing Your Accounts with Multi-Factor Authentication
- What is multi-factor authentication (MFA)
- Different types of MFA and their security levels
- How to enable MFA on essential accounts
- Backup strategies for access methods
Part 8: Secure Browsing Practices
- Understanding browser tracking and fingerprinting
- Choosing privacy-respecting browsers
- Essential privacy extensions and settings
- Practical guide to configuring your browser for privacy
Part 9: Encrypted Communications Basics
- Introduction to messaging security
- Comparing popular messaging apps for privacy
- Setting up and using encrypted email
- Best practices for private conversations
Part 10: Data Minimization Strategies
- The principle of data minimization
- Techniques to reduce your digital footprint
- How to conduct a personal data audit
- Tools and services that help minimize data collection
Part 11: Dealing with Data Brokers
- What are data brokers and how they operate
- How to identify which brokers have your information
- Step-by-step guide to opt-out processes
- Tools that can automate removal requests
Part 12: Mobile Device Security
- Securing smartphones and tablets
- Essential privacy settings for iOS and Android
- App permissions and how to manage them
- Mobile security tools worth considering
Part 13: Home Network Security
- Securing your home Wi-Fi network
- Router settings that enhance privacy
- Introduction to DNS filtering
- Smart home device security considerations
Part 14: Social Media Privacy
- Auditing your social media presence
- Platform-specific privacy settings guide
- Strategies for mindful sharing
- Tools to help manage your social media privacy
Part 15: Digital Identity Protection
- Understanding identity theft risks
- Preventative measures to protect your identity
- Monitoring for identity compromise
- Steps to take if your identity is stolen
Part 16: Privacy for Families and Children
- Age-appropriate digital literacy
- Parental controls that respect privacy
- Family conversations about digital safety
- Resources for teaching children about privacy
Part 17: Privacy in Public Spaces
- Protecting your information when using public Wi-Fi
- Physical privacy considerations (shoulder surfing, cameras)
- Travel privacy tips
- Using VPNs effectively
Part 18: Creating a Personal Security Plan
- Bringing together concepts from previous posts
- Template for a comprehensive security strategy
- Balancing security with convenience
- Setting realistic goals and implementation timeline
Part 19: Digital Resilience During Crisis
- Preparing for account lockouts or compromises
- Data backup strategies
- Emergency access planning
- Recovery from security incidents
Part 20: The Future of Privacy and Security
- Emerging technologies and their privacy implications
- Legislative developments in privacy protection
- How to stay informed about evolving threats
- Building a sustainable privacy practice for the long term
Special Features Throughout the Series
Practical How-To Guides
- Step-by-step instructions for implementing security measures
- Screenshots and visual guides
- Troubleshooting common issues
- Recommendations for tools and resources
Threat Scenario Analyses
- Real-world examples of privacy and security threats
- Case studies of privacy breaches and their impact
- How different protective measures would have helped
Privacy Tool Reviews
- Honest assessments of privacy tools and services
- Comparisons between popular options
- Considerations for choosing the right tools for your needs
Expert Insights
- Perspectives from privacy advocates and security professionals
- Simplified explanations of complex security concepts
- Practical wisdom from those with experience in the field
Posting Schedule
Publication Strategy
- Frequency: Weekly posts
- Publication Day: Every Monday (provides readers with privacy/security content at the start of each week)
- Time: 9:00 AM (to catch morning readers and allow for social sharing throughout the day)
20-Week Schedule
April 2025
- April 14, 2025: Part 3 - Demystifying Privacy, Security, and Encryption
- April 21, 2025: Part 4 - Creating Your Personal Threat Model
- April 28, 2025: Part 5 - Understanding Your Digital Footprint
May 2025
- May 5, 2025: Part 6 - Password Management Fundamentals
- May 12, 2025: Part 7 - Securing Your Accounts with Multi-Factor Authentication
- May 19, 2025: Part 8 - Secure Browsing Practices
- May 26, 2025: Part 9 - Encrypted Communications Basics
June 2025
- June 2, 2025: Part 10 - Data Minimization Strategies
- June 9, 2025: Part 11 - Dealing with Data Brokers
- June 16, 2025: Part 12 - Mobile Device Security
- June 23, 2025: Part 13 - Home Network Security
- June 30, 2025: Part 14 - Social Media Privacy
July 2025
- July 7, 2025: Part 15 - Digital Identity Protection
- July 14, 2025: Part 16 - Privacy for Families and Children
- July 21, 2025: Part 17 - Privacy in Public Spaces
- July 28, 2025: Part 18 - Creating a Personal Security Plan
August 2025
- August 4, 2025: Part 19 - Digital Resilience During Crisis
- August 11, 2025: Part 20 - The Future of Privacy and Security
Content Preparation Timeline
For each post, the following preparation timeline is recommended:
- 2 weeks before publication: Research and outline post content
- 1 week before publication: Draft post and prepare any graphics/screenshots
- 3 days before publication: Review, edit, and finalize post
- 1 day before publication: Schedule post in CMS and prepare social media announcements
Engagement Strategy
- End each post with a preview of next week's topic to build anticipation
- Include discussion questions at the end of each post to encourage comments
- Create a dedicated hashtag for the series (e.g., #DigitalResilienceSeries) for social sharing
- Consider creating downloadable resources (checklists, worksheets) for particularly practical posts
Conclusion
This digital resilience blog series will provide your readers with a structured, comprehensive education in privacy and security concepts, adapted from expert sources like Michael Bazzell's "Extreme Privacy" but made accessible for beginners. The weekly cadence will allow readers to gradually build their knowledge and skills, while the mix of theoretical and practical content ensures they understand both the "why" and "how" of digital resilience.
By following this series, your readers will develop the knowledge and skills needed to protect themselves in today's challenging digital landscape, particularly in contexts involving chilling of speech, harassment, and surveillance from both government and non-government entities.
The series is designed to be flexible, allowing for adjustments based on reader feedback and emerging privacy/security concerns. Each post builds upon previous content while still being valuable as a standalone resource, creating a comprehensive digital resilience resource library for your website.