Leak a Secret

In today’s society, you may learn a secret that you feel is important for other people to know. You probably don’t want to leave a record that you’re the one who leaked a secret, though. You have a few options to carefully leak a secret which include using email, snail mail, or a phone. The most important thing is to leak secrets in a way that excludes personal information which could be traced back to you.

Steps

Masking Your Online Identity

1. Buy a cheap laptop that you’ll only use for leaks. Your personal computer will almost certainly have personal information stored on it, which makes it easy to find. You also never want to use a work computer. Use cash to buy a cheap laptop and designate it for leaks. Keep it powered off at all times except when you are using it to leak secrets.
   • If the power is on, the location of the laptop can be tracked.
   • Never use this laptop for anything except leaking information, and never use it to enter any personal information. Don’t access social media or financial accounts.
2. Create an email address designated for leaks. You may already have multiple email accounts, but they all have at least your name attached. Use Gmail or another service to establish an email account for leaks. Do not enter any personal information, especially your name or phone number.
   • Make the name something generic that would not have any ties to you. Examples are: myleakaccount@gmail.com, onlyforsecrets@yahoo.com, or burneremail@gmail.com.
3. Access wifi from a public place. Each wifi access point has information attached to it which specifically identifies it. Leaks from a personal or workplace wifi source are easy to track. Your online activity will be tagged with that IP address. Go somewhere public like a coffee shop as another layer of anonymity.
4. Download and use the Tor Browser. This browser uses a system of relay networks which hides your information when you connect to the internet through them. By using Tor, you’ll hide your location and IP address, as well as personal info attached to a computer.
   • To download the browser and find out more about how it works, visit the Tor Browser website.

Emailing Secret Documents

1. Send a screenshot of secret documents. One mistake that’s easy to make is sending original documents that could be easily tracked. If you have documents on a computer, take a screenshot and make it into a separate document. Send this document so the original doesn’t create a trail.
2. Choose a news outlet that uses a secure leak platform. If you send an email to a news outlet’s general email account, it will be easily tracked. Make sure that the outlet has a system in place to protect both of you from detection. SecureDrop and GlobaLeak are commonly used secure platforms.
3. Clear the cookies and turn off the wifi. After you have leaked the secret documents through a secure source, close any windows you’ve used. Open the settings on your browser. Clear the cookies, and any other data that your browser is set to save. Then turn off the wifi.
4. Power down the laptop before you leave. If your laptop is on, it can be tracked. Since you leaked the secret from a public place, turn the laptop off while you are still there. Make sure you wait and check that it’s completely shut down before you leave.

Sending Documents in the Mail

1. Handle the document and envelope with gloves. You leave fingerprints on everything that you touch. When you print and pick up the documents, wear gloves. Also be sure to wear gloves when you put the documents in the envelope and any time you handle the envelope.
2. Print an address label. Since your writing has a distinct trademark, it can actually be studied and traced back to you by professionals. For this reason, you'll want to avoid address the envelope by hand. Printing a label is a quick way to avoid your writing giving you away.
   • If you don't have access to a printer, write the address with your non-dominant hand or alter your typical writing style as much as possible.
3. Leave the return address blank. It may seem obvious, but you don’t want anyone to know who sent the secret document, so don’t write your address on the envelope. Make sure that you still paste a stamp on the envelope, though, or the letter might not get where it’s meant to go.
4. Drop the envelope in a public mailbox that is not near your home. Never mail secure documents from your house because it may be traced back to you. Drive somewhere that’s relatively far from your house and leave the envelope in a public mail collection box.

Leaking Secrets Over the Phone

1. Buy a prepaid phone with cash. Your personal and business phones are easy to trace back to you or your place of work, so never use them to leak secrets. Go to a small store that’s outside of your usual area and buy a prepaid phone with cash. Never use cards that can be traced back to you.
2. Leave the phone off unless you are using it. When the power is turned on, the phone’s location is noticed by cell towers. Always leave the phone off and take the battery out when you aren’t making calls.
3. Go to a public place and only turn the phone on when you arrive. Drive somewhere that you know will always be busy, like a grocery store parking lot or a park. Insert the battery and turn the phone on so you can make the call.
4. Make your call as quickly as possible. Even with a burner phone, someone, somewhere could be listening in. Say what you need to say in an efficient and direct manner. Get off the phone as fast as you can. Don’t give your name or any other personal information.

Sources and Citations

See also

• Write a Diary
• Start Writing a Diary Like Book
• Keep a Diary and Stick to It
• Write a Diary Every Day for a Year and Make It Interesting
• Hide Your Diary
• Decorate a Diary
• Make an Invisible Ink Message
• Keep a Secret
• Create a Diary
• Get Ideas for Your Diary

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