How to stay safe online

In many communities, phones can help us stay connected to our friends and to our faith. There are many wonderful resources like apps and websites where we can read the Bible or listen to sermons or podcasts or worship music which can help strengthen our faith. We can also belong to online communities or chat groups where we can share prayer requests or help care for and disciple other believers.

However, in some contexts, being found with content like this might provoke harassment or persecution. We might be endangering our own lives or the lives of others. So how can we stay safe while still enjoying all the wonderful the benefits?

The answer is that you can take some simple steps to help keep your phone safe and protect your privacy and manage your risk. Here’s how.

Why Online Safety Matters

Your phone holds a lot of information—messages, apps, and even the websites you visit. If someone checks your phone, they might find Bible verses, sermon audio, or group chats about faith. In some places, this can lead to questions, trouble, or worse. By being careful, you can reduce these risks and still enjoy religious content privately.

Easy Ways to Stay Safe

1. Lock Your Phone Tight

• A locked phone is your first shield. Set a strong 6-digit PIN or password, not something easy like 1234.
• Don’t share your phone with others, even for a quick call.
• Turn off message previews so no one sees your WhatsApp or Bible app notifications on the lock screen. Check Settings > Notifications to switch them off.

2. Be Smart with Apps and Chats

Apps like WhatsApp or Facebook are great, but they can leave traces. Try these tips:

• Use private apps: Apps like Signal or Telegram are safer because they can delete messages automatically. Telegram has “secret chats” that hide your talks. Some messaging apps have dissappearing messages.
• Delete chats often: After reading or sending messages about faith or personal things, delete them. In WhatsApp, tap a message and choose “Delete for Everyone” if you can.
• Avoid group chats about faith: Group chats in some contexts can be risky—someone might share or report them and your number will be visibly linked. Stick to one-on-one chats with people you trust.
• Be careful what you share: Don’t share any information in a chat that you wouldn’t want to be made public.
• Use offline Bible apps: Apps like YouVersion or Bible.is let you download chapters or audio to use without internet. This leaves fewer traces. Download what you need, then turn off data.
• Use secure Bible spps: some Bible apps might look like a game or a calculator when opened. Only when a special code is entered will the Bible appear.  You can access trusted, secure Bible Apps from Faith Comes by Hearing. Many of these apps feature both text and audio and are available in many different languages. They can also be shared from phone to phone without any internet connection.

3. Stay Safe on Social Media and Websites

Social media can be fun for staying connected with friends and family, but beware of posting about your faith or other personal content online. Here’s how to stay private:

• Control your privacy settings: Make sure your profile is set to private and don’t add people to your friends or followers lists that you don’t know.
• Don’t post publicly: Avoid sharing sermons, prayers, or verses on Facebook or other platforms. Send them privately to trusted friends instead.
• Be careful who you follow: Subscribing or following different pages or people can build up a link profile (others will be able to know who you are and what you like based on who you follow).
• Browse secretly: Use “Incognito Mode” when visiting religious websites. In Chrome, tap the three dots and select “New Incognito Tab.” This won’t save your history.
• Watch out for bad links: Don’t click links in messages or emails, especially from people you don’t know —they might track you or harm your phone.

4. Listen to Podcasts Safely

Sermons and podcasts can lift your spirit, but they can also leave clues on your phone. Try this:

• Download Offline: Use apps like Bible.is to save audio files so you don’t need internet to listen.
• Delete After Listening: Once you’re done, delete the audio from the app or your phone’s file manager.
• Use Headphones: Listen privately so no one nearby hears religious content.

5. Be Ready if Your Phone Is Taken

You can reduce what people may find if your phone is taken (or if is lost or stolen):

• Hide apps: Move apps like Bible apps to a hidden folder or lock them.
• Clear your tracks: Every week, delete call logs, messages, and browsing history.
• Reset as a last step: If you think your phone might be taken soon, reset it to erase everything. Go to Settings > Backup & Reset > Factory Data Reset. Back up important things first, like photos, if it’s safe.

6. Respect and Protect Others’ Safety

Your actions can affect the safety of others in your community. Be careful not to put friends or family at risk:

• Don’t take photos at religious gatherings: Avoid taking pictures or videos at religious meetings without everyone’s permission. Photos can show who was there and be used against them if your phone is checked.
• Don’t mention or tag others online: Avoid naming or tagging people in posts, chats, or photos about faith on WhatsApp, Facebook, or other apps. Even private messages can be seen if your phone is taken.
• Ask before sharing: If you want to share a sermon or verse with someone, check if they’re okay with receiving it. Not everyone may feel safe having religious content on their phone.
• Keep discussions private: Talk about faith only with trusted people in one-on-one chats, not in groups where others might see or share the conversation.

7. Listen to local experts

Every community faces unique risks when using phones for religious activities. In some places, authorities or others may closely monitor calls, messages, or apps to find evidence of faith-based activities. Local leaders, trusted community members, or organizations often know the specific dangers in your area and can share practical advice. For example:

• Follow local advice: If trusted leaders warn against using certain apps (like WhatsApp or Facebook) for religious content, take their advice seriously. They may know about local monitoring or risks you’re unaware of.
• Learn Safe Practices: Some communities suggest using code words for religious topics in chats or avoiding certain websites that are watched. Ask local experts how people safely share sermons or Bible verses in your area.
• Stay updated: Risks can change. A trusted pastor or community group might share updates about new monitoring tactics or safer apps to use. Stay in touch with them privately.
• Connect safely: If you need guidance, talk to local experts in person or through secure one-on-one chats, not public groups. This keeps everyone safer.
• Why It Matters: Local experts understand your context best. Their advice can help you avoid specific dangers, like apps that are monitored or places where phones are often checked.

Keep Your Faith, Stay Safe

You don’t need to stop using your phone, but, by locking your phone, deleting messages, using offline apps, being careful online, protecting others, and listening to local experts, you can keep yourself and your community safe. Share these tips with trusted friends and family, but always be cautious about who you talk to. Your faith is precious, and these small steps can help you keep it safe.