
Securing smartphones is now a priority for Hong Kong protesters
Apps like Parachute are helping protesters keep themselves and their data safe as tensions escalate
Over two months of unrest, Hong Kong’s protesters have learned to hide their identities. They cover their faces with masks, goggles and hard hats during press conferences. They spray paint surveillance cameras and point pocket lasers at police cameras.
But it’s not just their faces that can give them away. Protesters have also learned to hide their smartphone data using various security-related apps now climbing the download charts.
Marinos Bernistas, founder and CEO of Parachute, told Abacus that his company decided to make the app free for Hong Kong users after their helpdesk was inundated with requests to use it without paying. The company normally charges a US$9.99 membership fee, but it offers to waive it for those who can’t afford it.
Parachute automatically records video, audio and location data during an emergency. It also sends out texts, calls, emails and recorded content to emergency contacts.

Hong Kong protesters have their own reasons to keep their data secure and their identities hidden. One is the increasing awareness that their smartphones could be used against them.

In addition to doling out tips on apps such as Parachute, the LIHKG forum has been informing protesters about ways to better secure their personal devices through settings.
