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If you have information you want to share with us, we want to hear from you. This page explains how to do that safely.
Source protection is not a legal formality for us. It is the foundation our journalism is built on. We have never revealed a confidential source. We never will.
Before you contact us
The safest contact is contact that cannot be traced. Before you reach out, consider:
Your device. Work devices, devices issued by employers, and devices connected to workplace networks are not safe for sensitive communications. Use a personal device on a personal network, or a device that cannot be connected to you.
Your location. Mobile networks and workplace Wi-Fi log which devices connect to them. If location matters, use public Wi-Fi from a location not associated with your daily routine.
Your accounts. Do not contact us from an account connected to your real identity, your employer's systems, or any account you use for other purposes. Create a new account for this purpose only if needed.
Metadata. Even encrypted messages carry metadata — when they were sent, from where, to whom. The methods below are chosen to minimise or eliminate this.
How to contact us securely
Signal (preferred for ongoing contact)
Signal provides end-to-end encrypted messaging and voice calls. Messages can be set to disappear automatically.
Signal number: unavailable
Enable disappearing messages before contacting us. Do not use Signal on a work device or a device registered to an employer.
SecureDrop (preferred for documents)
SecureDrop is an open-source whistleblower submission system. It operates over the Tor network and is designed specifically for submitting sensitive documents to journalists without leaving a traceable connection.
Our SecureDrop address: unavailable
To use SecureDrop:
- Download the Tor Browser from torproject.org
- Open the Tor Browser and visit our SecureDrop address
- Follow the on-screen instructions to submit your information or documents
Do not visit SecureDrop from a work device, a work network, or a browser other than Tor.
Encrypted email (for less sensitive material)
Email is not secure by default. If you choose to use email, use our PGP key to encrypt your message.
Our PGP key fingerprint: [INSERT FINGERPRINT]
Our PGP public key: Download here
If you don't know how to use PGP, use Signal or SecureDrop instead.
Standard email (for non-sensitive contact)
For general inquiries that do not involve confidential information:
info@yacnews.com
Do not send sensitive material over unencrypted email.
What happens when you contact us
When you submit information through a secure channel, a journalist reviews it. We do not share your identity or contact details with anyone else in our organisation, with law enforcement, or with third parties — ever.
We will contact you through the channel you used to reach us, or through a channel you specify, if we want to follow up.
We may decide not to publish information you share. If we do not publish, we will tell you. We do not hold confidential information beyond what is necessary for the specific story.
Protecting yourself further
Use Tor for browsing. The Tor Browser anonymises your internet traffic by routing it through multiple relays. Download it from torproject.org. Do not use Tor on a work device.
Use a VPN with caution. VPNs mask your IP address from websites but your VPN provider can still see your traffic. A VPN is not a substitute for Tor when anonymity is critical.
Air-gapped devices. For extremely sensitive material, consider using a device that has never been connected to the internet and never will be. Documents can be transferred via USB if the drive has been wiped first.
Physical documents. If you want to send physical documents, contact us via a secure channel first to arrange a safe method.
Cover your tracks. If you've been researching how to contact us, clear your browser history, cache, and any searches related to this. Better yet, use a private browsing window or Tor for any research related to this contact.
Legal support
If you face legal consequences as a result of providing information to YAC, we cannot refer you to specialist legal support and providing information is at your own risk.
Questions about this page
Contact info@yacnews.com with questions about secure contact methods.