F-Secure to Provide Journalists With Free VPN Subscriptions to Help Fight the Global Deterioration of the Free Press

/EINPresswire.com/ -- SAN JOSE, CA -- (Marketwired) -- 05/03/16 -- 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 Erka Koivunen, F-Secure's cyber security advisor. "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. 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 participated in the event at Finlandia Hall, including:

• Mikko Hypponen, F-Secure's chief research officer, appeared as a keynote speaker
• Erka Koivunen, F-Secure's cyber security advisor, participated in a panel discussion
• Sean Sullivan, F-Secure's 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

F-Secure - Switch on freedom
F-Secure has been defending tens of millions of people around the globe from digital threats for over 25 years. Our award-winning products protect people and companies against everything from crimeware to corporate cyberattacks, and are available from over 6000 resellers and 200 operators in more than 40 countries. We're on a mission to help people connect safely with the world around them, so join the movement and switch on freedom!

Founded in 1988, F-Secure is listed on NASDAQ OMX Helsinki Ltd.

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