Information and Digital Security in a Post-Roe World

As a male who has never had and will never have an abortion, I am completely unqualified to tell a woman what they can or can not do with their body. I am, however, qualified speak to Cyber and Information Security.

Now that the extremist GOP Supreme Court has overturned Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey, abortion becoming illegal in half the country and contraception, same-sex marriage, and same-sex relationships looking to be next on the Republican chopping block, you should be aware of the digital footprint you are leaving when seeking reproductive healthcare. 

Here’s what information might be collected and what you can do to prevent it:

1. Menstrual Cycle Tracking Apps: Cycle-tracking apps collect and store your reproductive health data. If you are currently using an app, delete it as soon as possible. Also be sure to close any accounts associated with the apps. Do not use an app for the time being.
2. Payment for services and travel: Mobile banking and payment apps (Venmo, PayPal, CashApp, etc) create a digital record of payments tied directly to you. Use cash to pay for services and travel if possible. If not possible, purchase Visa or Mastercard pre-paid gift cards. They work like debit cards and are a way to use digital payment if required in a semi-anonymous way. 
3. Receipts for payment for services and travel: Use a temporary email account or phone number to receive receipts. These numbers and addresses self-destruct after a set amount of time. Several free services are available: TempMail, EmailOnDeck, Temp-Number, and countless others. Be sure to use a VPN when using these services. Read more about VPNs below.
4. Internet traffic and browsing history: Your device’s browser saves your history and (far more importantly) so does your ISP (internet service provider- Mediacom, Comcast, AT&T, etc). If subpoenaed, ISPs typically have to hand this data over to criminal investigators. Using ‘Incognito Mode’ in Google Chrome is NOT enough to protect your privacy. You can protect your browsing activity in 2 ways:
   1. Use ‘Incognito Mode’ and DuckDuckGo combined with a VPN (Virtual Private Network): ‘Incognito Mode’ will erase your browser history from your device while a VPN will encrypt your traffic. There are several VPNs to choose from, but all are not created equal. Pay attention to the country the VPN is run out of as that country’s laws are what will govern information requests made by law enforcement. I currently use and recommend NordVPN.
   2. Use Tor and a VPN: Tor allows access ‘Onion Routing’ for encrypted anonymous browsing. It can be used as a normal web browser but can also be used to access the ‘deep web’ and ‘dark web.’ See more about that below. I always recommend using a VPN regardless of any other privacy measures you may be using.
5. Communication with Friends, Family, Provider, etc: Texting and/or emailing leaves a digital ‘paper trail’ of information about your abortion, and just deleting the messages from your device or email account is not enough to keep them from investigators should they obtain a search warrant for your device. For added security and privacy, use an encrypted messaging app like Signal or Wire (with disappearing messages turned on) or for maximum security, use an XMPP (eXtensible Messaging and Presence Protocol) IM service in the chat client Pidgin with the OTR plugin or use an email client with PGP (Pretty Good Protection) email encryption. Send me a message if you need more information about setting up secure chat or email. 
6. Online Purchase of ‘Abortion Pills’ and Contraceptives: There are places to purchase abortion pills and/or contraceptives discretely online if the purchase and/or distribution is made illegal or unobtainable in a state. Options are already available for purchase on darknet markets (think SilkRoad, Dream Market, HANSA, etc). I am not providing names for currently active markets for obvious reasons (all of the markets listed above have been closed). Purchasing from darknet markets is inherently dangerous and requires knowledge of the Tor network and cryptocurrency, but for some, it may be the best option to get care. You can send me a message if you need help obtaining care this way.
7. Ad and/or location tracking: Your phone can track you wherever you go and any websites/social media profiles you visit. If you use an iPhone, anti-tracking is enabled by default. On Android, a similar feature is available through the DuckDuckGo app. For location tracking, both iOS and Android offer the option to disable location services outright. Doing this will block all apps on your phone from accessing your location data.

None of these steps will guarantee that state governments won’t obtain information about your reproductive health, but they will make it far more difficult and far less likely.

If the instructions above sound like I am telling someone how to buy narcotics anonymously online, I essentially am. That is where America is in 2022- you have to follow the same steps to access healthcare as you would have to follow to buy cocaine or ecstasy.

I wish I had an uplifting or hopeful message to share at the end of this post. This country is in serious trouble if we give guns more rights than we give women.