Two weeks ago, from 1 -3 September, the first Philippine FTX was held. The main theme of the workshop was on 'Secure Online Communications'. The workshop was attended by eighteen women's rights advocates from the Philippines.

One of the sessions we held was on Social Networking and Security. I do think that this is the new challenge in any secure online communications discussion / training / conversation. Social networking has changed the terms in which we should be raising awareness on online security and privacy. Back before social networking became the biggest thing on the internet, online security trainings meant (generally) going through the following topics:

• how the internet works: understanding the TCP/IP suite, figuring out where the vulnerabilities are when we connect to the internet
• data security: keeping data protected and backing up
• access control: knowing how to keep others from your data through firewalls and password management
• viruses / spyware / malware: understanding malicious software and protecting yourself from them
• cryptology and encryption: understanding concepts like PGP and knowing the tools needed to use it
• anonymity and circumvention: how to hide your IP address when connected to the internet

These topics are still very much useful to know and understand (and implement when applicable) but they are no longer enough.

How do you the use technology as a feminist? Celebrate IWD by sharing your practice and politics on twitter! Create a buzz and add your story on how you use the internet, mobile phones and other communications technology for women's rights and empowerment.

Tweet your story and let us know by adding the hashtags:

#feminist_tech

#iwd

#takebackthetech