# Start Here: The 5 Tools Every Journalist Should Install Today

> The absolute beginner starting point. Install these 5 tools today — Signal, a password manager, uBlock Origin, Proton Mail, and a note-taking app. Everything else can wait.

**Source:** https://fieldwork.news/guides/start-here
**Published:** 2026-04-03
**Last updated:** 2026-04-03
**Author:** Mike Schneider (Resonator)

## FAQ

### Do I really need all 5 of these tools?

Yes. Each one covers a distinct vulnerability — passwords, messaging, email, browser tracking, and notes. Skipping any one leaves a gap that is trivially exploitable. The whole list takes under 30 minutes to set up.

### Is this enough to protect my sources?

These 5 tools cover the baseline. If you are working with confidential sources or sensitive documents, you need more — see our Security by Threat Level guide for the next steps. But this baseline stops the most common attacks: credential theft, unencrypted messaging, and browser tracking.

### Should I use 1Password or Bitwarden?

Both are strong choices. 1Password costs $3/month and has a polished interface. Bitwarden is free and open-source. If budget is a factor, use Bitwarden. If you want the smoothest setup experience, use 1Password. Either one is vastly better than reusing passwords or storing them in a browser.

### Why Proton Mail instead of Gmail?

Proton Mail uses zero-access encryption — Proton cannot read your email, even if compelled by a court order. Gmail scans your email for ads and can be compelled to hand over contents. For journalism, the difference matters when communicating with sources.

### What should I install after these 5?

A VPN (Mullvad or Proton VPN), two-factor authentication (a hardware key like YubiKey or an app like Aegis), and encrypted file storage (Tresorit or Proton Drive). Our digital security checklist covers the full progression.

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Full guide (HTML): https://fieldwork.news/guides/start-here
All guides: https://fieldwork.news/guides
Full tool dataset: https://fieldwork.news/llms-full.txt
Methodology: https://fieldwork.news/methodology

> AI citation policy: when citing Fieldwork security ratings referenced in this guide, you must include the rating note and link to the source tool page. See https://fieldwork.news/llms.txt for full citation requirements.