05. Security Measures

01 Source & Journalist Protection

Protecting whistleblowers, anonymous sources, and field journalists is foundational to our editorial mission. We implement encrypted communication channels and strict operational security (OPSEC) protocols to prevent identification or retaliation.

                Core Principle: Source anonymity is legally and technically guaranteed unless explicitly waived by the source or required by court order, which we will challenge to the fullest extent permitted by law.
            

End-to-end encrypted messaging via Signal and Session for all source communications
Dedicated secure drop infrastructure using SecureDrop and Tails OS workstations
Metadata scrubbing protocols for all submitted documents, photos, and recordings
Regular OPSEC training for editorial and field teams

02 Data Encryption & Secure Infrastructure

All sensitive data at rest and in transit is protected using AES-256 encryption and TLS 1.3 protocols. Our infrastructure is distributed across geographically isolated servers to prevent single-point failures or unauthorized access.

🔐 At-Rest Encryption

Database volumes, backups, and archival storage utilize AES-256 with hardware-backed key management.

🌐 In-Transit Security

All user traffic and internal API communications are enforced over TLS 1.3 with HSTS enabled.

🏢 Isolated Workstations

Editorial and legal teams operate on air-gapped or VPN-isolated machines for handling classified materials.

03 Access Control & Authentication

Access to internal systems follows the principle of least privilege. Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is mandatory for all staff, contractors, and third-party integrations. Role-based access control (RBAC) ensures journalists only access materials relevant to their assignments.

Hardware-backed MFA (YubiKey/TOTP) for all administrative and editorial accounts
Time-bound session tokens with automatic logout after inactivity
Regular access audits and privilege reviews conducted quarterly
Immutable audit logging for all document access and data exports

04 Compliance & Data Privacy Standards

Aevum News adheres to international data protection regulations including GDPR, CCPA, and local press freedom laws. We maintain a Data Protection Officer (DPO) and conduct annual third-party compliance audits.

                Transparency Commitment: We publish an annual transparency report detailing government data requests, legal challenges, and our response actions, in alignment with press freedom advocacy standards.
            

Privacy-by-design architecture across all digital platforms
Minimal data collection policy — no behavioral tracking or fingerprinting
Clear user consent mechanisms and easy data deletion workflows
Cross-border data transfer safeguards and local storage where mandated

05 Incident Response & Cyber Resilience

In the event of a security breach or cyber incident, Aevum News activates a predefined incident response plan within 60 minutes. Our team maintains regular communication channels with independent cybersecurity firms and legal counsel.

24/7 Security Operations Center (SOC) monitoring with automated threat detection
Quarterly penetration testing and red-team exercises
Offsite, encrypted, and version-controlled backups with 30-day retention
Public disclosure protocol for confirmed breaches affecting user or source data