Electronic Frontier Foundation created Encrypt It Already, a public education campaign and resource hub designed to help everyday people understand and use encrypted communication. The project explains, in plain language, why encryption matters and how to start protecting personal conversations, files, and online activity.
Many people assume surveillance only targets criminals or high-profile figures. In reality, journalists, activists, organizers, and vulnerable communities are often monitored through ordinary digital tools like email, text messaging, and social media. Unencrypted communication can expose personal data, private plans, and contact networks without users realizing it.
Encrypt It Already focuses on practical steps anyone can take to improve privacy, including:
• using end-to-end encrypted messaging apps
• protecting email accounts
• securing devices with passwords and updates
• understanding metadata and location tracking
• avoiding unsafe communication habits
The site is especially useful for new activists and volunteers who want to participate in organizing but have never received digital safety training. Instead of technical jargon, the project explains security concepts in simple, actionable terms.
Learning basic encryption practices protects not just individuals but entire communities. One compromised phone or account can expose an entire network, while secure communication dramatically reduces that risk.