Now you’re even more secure on FixMyStreet

All mySociety websites have strong security: when you think about some of the data we’re entrusted with (people’s private correspondence with their MPs, through WriteToThem, is perhaps the most extreme example, but many of our websites also rely on us storing your email address and other personal information) then you’ll easily understand why robust privacy and security measures are built into all our systems from the very beginning.

We’ve recently upped these even more for FixMyStreet. Like everyone else, we’ve been checking our systems and policies ahead of the implementation of the new General Data Protection Regulation in May, and this helped us see a few areas where we could tighten things up.

Privacy

A common request from our users is that we remove their name from a report they made on FixMyStreet: either they didn’t realise that it would be published on the site, or they’ve changed their mind about it. Note that when you submit your report, there’s a box which you can uncheck if you would like your report to be anonymous:

FixMyStreet remembers your preference and applies it the next time you make a report.

In any case, now users can anonymise their own reports, either singly or all at once. When you’re logged in, just go to any of your reports and click ‘hide my name’. You’ll see both options:

report of puddles on the undercliff walk on FixMyStreet

Security

Security for users was already very good, but with the following improvements it can be considered excellent!

  • All passwords are now checked against a list of the 577,000 most common choices, and any that appear in this list are not allowed.
  • Passwords must now also be of a minimum length.
  • If you change your password, you have to input the previous one in order to authorise the change. Those who haven’t previously used a password (since it is possible to make a report without creating an account), will receive a confirmation email to ensure the request has come from the email address given.
  • FixMyStreet passwords are hashed with an algorithm called bcrypt, which has a built in ‘work factor’ that can be increased as computers get faster. We’ve bumped this up.
  • Admins can now log a user out of all their sessions. This could be useful for example in the case of a user who has logged in via a public computer and is concerned that others may be able to access their account; or for staff admin who share devices.


Image: Timothy Muza (Unsplash)

 

 

 

 

2 Comments

  1. There are 2 large potholes at the junction of Wentworth Avenue, Finchley, London, N3 and Essex Park, Finchley, London, N3. These need fixing urgently. It is a very busy junction near schools and West Finchley tube station and a doctor’s surgery. The road needs fixing urgently.

    • Hi Anon,
      This is not the place to report potholes! If you go to http://www.FixMyStreet.com and input the postcode or street name where the issue is, you’ll be able to make a report. That then gets sent to the correct department of the correct local council to fix it.