Archived: Hush Line

Anonymous reporting for journalists, lawyers, employers, and more.

Hush Line is a platform that provides individuals and organizations with open-source, end-to-end encrypted, anonymous tip lines.

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We're committed to your privacy & security

Hush Line understands the risks associated with disclosing information. To help protect our users, we're committed to the highest standards of privacy and security.

One of the top reasons people fail to report their concerns is fear of retaliation. Whether you're a journalist, school administrator, or an employer, your communities want to help but aren't always able to take on the associated risks.

Hush Line is a safe way for anyone to share information without jumping through hoops or compromising their identity.

Frequently Asked Questions

• SecureDrop is a robust whistleblowing platform whose architecture is necessitated by very specific use cases: A.) To safely manage files sent by anonymous people so that a device or network isn't accidentally compromised, and B.) To provide a censorship-resistant and anonymous method of sending those files. When someone submits a message, an account is created for them, allowing two-way communication. To use SecureDrop:

  The tip line owner must:

  1. Do A LOT. SecureDrop is an "on-prem" solution, requiring you to store multiple servers locally, all focused on isolated tasks, using a dedicated network. Think of SecureDrop as a fixed workflow for receiving and handling potentially malicious files. You must do all of the things correctly to assume safe operation. It requires a lot of time, which means a lot of money. The installation and setup of the system, in most cases, needs to be conducted by a member of the SD team, with service contracts helping to ensure proper maintenance of the infrastructure.

  The message submitter must:

  1. Learn how to use SecureDrop.
  2. Download Tor Browser.
  3. Find the correct Onion address for their recipient.
  4. Submit a message.
  5. Save their account credentials.
  6. Check back for progress.

  Hush Line is not a replacement for SecureDrop. Instead, it's for organizations who might not have the staff required to manage such a system or need nation-state levels of defense for all of their anonymous tips. We simplify our security model by being a text-only service, meaning there is no possibility of receiving files that could harm your computer or network.

  We're a managed service, so you don't have to worry about maintaining physical infrastructure or learning new workflows. In fact, to use Hush Line, you don't even have to log back into the service after setting it up. We can deliver messages directly to your email inbox, so you can set it, forget it, and never miss a beat. Users can add their own public PGP key, giving them end-to-end encryption and ensuring messages cannot be read by anyone but them.

  Hush Line is also available on a clearnet address, or through our Onion service. Using the browser already on your computer or phone, you can easily submit a message without ever downloading a new app. Users who need higher levels of anonymity may optionally use our Onion service, requiring them to download Tor Browser. This flexibility allows for our service to be used for benign use cases or elevated threat levels.