F-Secure Offers Free Privacy and Security App to Journalists

Helsinki, Finland – May 3, 2016: Today is World Press Freedom Day – an event designed to highlight the importance of free speech as a human right. Having free speech lets journalists investigate problems happening all over the globe, often at the expense of their own privacy, or even personal safety. So F-Secure, a Finnish cyber security company, is taking steps to help journalists safeguard their right to free speech by offering them free VPN subscriptions.

According to Reporters without Borders' 2016 World Press Freedom Index, Finland has the freest media in the world,* making it fitting that this year's World Press Freedom Day event is being held in the Finnish capital of Helsinki. However, the report also noted the overall freedom of press is in a global decline, and dropped by 13.6 percent since 2013.**

"Free speech is something nurtured by some governments, but many see it as a threat when mobilized in an institution like the media," says F-Secure Cyber Security Advisor Erka Koivunen. "And even though technology has given governments unprecedented surveillance capabilities, it's also given people ways to protect themselves. Encryption is probably the best tool available to journalists if they want to conduct investigatory work without suffering reprisals from oppressive governments and institutions."

Journalists can use VPNs such as F-Secure Freedome to encrypt their communications, change their virtual location, and block malicious websites and online tracking attempts. And to help make using encryption more accessible for journalists, F-Secure is offering free 12-month subscriptions for Freedome to journalists until May 15.

F-Secure at World Press Freedom Day

UNESCO and the Finnish government are co-hosting World Press Freedom Day's main event in Helsinki from May 2-4. Personnel from F-Secure will be participating in the event on May 3 at Finlandia Hall, including:

• Mikko Hypponen, F-Secure Chief Research Officer, will be appearing as a keynote speaker at 14:00 (local time)
• Erka Koivunen, F-Secure Cyber Security Advisor, will participate in a panel discussion from 15:45 – 16:15 (local time)
• Sean Sullivan, F-Secure Security Advisor, will be at F-Secure's booth offering security advice to journalists

Journalists interested in receiving their free Freedome VPN subscription should send confirmation (for example, an image) of their valid press credentials to F-Secure's Twitter account (@FSecure) using a direct message before May 15. Eligible journalists will receive a free three-device, 12-month subscription to Freedome.

*Source: https://rsf.org/en/ranking **Source: https://rsf.org/en/deep-and-disturbing-decline-media-freedom

More information:

World Press Freedom Day: Why it Matters and How Tech can Help F-Secure Freedome