Helplines & Support Organizations
A comprehensive list of organizations that provide free or subsidized assistance for cyber incidents.
Global
Access Now Digital Security Helpline
- Website: accessnow.org/help
- Available: 24/7, free
- Languages: EN, ES, FR, DE, PT, RU, AR, IT, and more
- Serves: Journalists, activists, human rights defenders
- Services: Rapid response, account security, device security
- Note: Does NOT serve regular businesses
CyberPeace Institute
- Website: cyberpeaceinstitute.org
- Serves: Humanitarian NGOs, healthcare, civilian organizations
- Services: CyberPeace Builders program, threat analysis
- Note: Focused on humanitarian sector
The Cyber Helpline
- Website: thecyberhelpline.com
- Serves: Individuals (UK, USA), sole traders
- Services: Expert volunteers, chatbot triage
- Note: Does NOT serve businesses larger than sole traders
Front Line Defenders
- Website: frontlinedefenders.org
- 24/7 Emergency: Available
- Serves: Human rights defenders ONLY
- Services: Emergency support, protection grants (up to €7,500)
- Languages: AR, EN, ES, FR, RU, FA, PT, ZH, TR
Digital Defenders Partnership
- Website: digitaldefenders.org
- Serves: Human rights defenders, activists
- Services: Emergency grants (€5,000-15,000), digital security support
- Note: HRDs only, not general businesses
Citizen Lab
- Website: citizenlab.ca
- Based at: University of Toronto
- Serves: Civil society facing targeted threats
- Services: Research, investigations
- Note: Research focus, not direct helpline
Amnesty Security Lab
- Website: securitylab.amnesty.org
- Serves: Human rights defenders, activists, journalists
- Services: Spyware investigations, forensics
- Note: Focus on targeted surveillance cases
Nordics
HackAid
- Website: hackaid.org
- Serves: Organizations that can't afford commercial incident response
- Services: Free digital forensics by BTH-trained volunteers
- Apply: Submit application
Sweden - CERT-SE
- Website: cert.se
- 24/7 Hotline: +46 10 240 40 40
- Email: cert@cert.se
- Serves: Swedish organizations
- Services: Incident coordination, threat intelligence, guidance
Sweden - IMY (Data Protection Authority)
- Website: imy.se
- Phone: +46 8 657 61 00
- Serves: Organizations with GDPR questions/breaches
- Services: Breach reporting, GDPR guidance
Denmark - CFCS
- Website: cfcs.dk
- Serves: Danish organizations
- Services: Advisories, coordination
Norway - NCSC-NO
- Website: nsm.no
- Serves: Norwegian organizations
- Services: Guidance, coordination
Finland - NCSC-FI
- Website: qurium.org
- Based in: Sweden
- Serves: Independent media, journalists, HRDs
- Services: Secure hosting, DDoS protection, forensics
Europe
France - Cybermalveillance.gouv.fr
- Website: cybermalveillance.gouv.fr
- Also: 17cyber.gouv.fr - Diagnostic tool
- Serves: French individuals, SMEs, local authorities
- Services: Free diagnosis, guidance, provider directory
- Note: France has excellent SME cyber support
Spain - INCIBE
- Website: incibe.es
- Helpline: 017 (free, 8am-11pm daily)
- Also: WhatsApp 900 116 117, Telegram @INCIBE017
- Serves: Spanish individuals and SMEs
- Services: Expert consultation, guidance, coordination
Germany - BSI
- Website: bsi.bund.de
- Serves: German organizations
- Services: Alliance for Cyber Security, guidance
UK - NCSC
- Website: ncsc.gov.uk
- Serves: UK organizations
- Services: Guidance, Early Warning Service, incident support
Netherlands - NCSC-NL
- Website: ncsc.nl
- Serves: Dutch organizations
- Services: Advisories, incident coordination
Nothing2Hide
- Website: nothing2hide.org
- Based in: France
- Serves: Journalists, human rights defenders, activists
- Services: Training, emergency digital security services
US
CISA (Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency)
- Website: cisa.gov
- Report incidents: cisa.gov/report
- Serves: US organizations
- Services: Guidance, incident coordination, vulnerability disclosure
FBI IC3 (Internet Crime Complaint Center)
- Website: ic3.gov
- Serves: US victims of internet crime
- Services: Complaint filing, fund recovery assistance
Consortium of Cybersecurity Clinics
- Website: cybersecurityclinics.org
- Serves: US nonprofits, municipalities, schools
- Services: Security assessments (student-led)
- Note: 50+ university clinics across the US
University Cybersecurity Clinics
Free security assessments for qualifying organizations:
| University |
Location |
Focus |
| UC Berkeley CLTC |
California |
Nonprofits, election security |
| MIT |
Massachusetts |
Municipalities |
| Indiana University |
Indiana |
State/local agencies |
| Tufts |
Massachusetts |
Under-resourced orgs |
| Georgetown |
Washington DC |
Tech policy |
| DePaul |
Illinois |
Chicago nonprofits |
Free Security Services
DDoS Protection
| Service |
Provider |
For |
| Project Galileo |
Cloudflare |
Journalists, human rights, democracy orgs |
| Project Shield |
Google |
News sites, election monitoring, HRDs |
Account Security
Finding the Right Help
| Your Situation |
Best Resource |
| Any organization, can't afford IR |
HackAid |
| Journalist/activist |
Access Now, Qurium |
| Human rights defender |
Front Line Defenders, DDP |
| Individual victim (UK/US) |
The Cyber Helpline |
| French organization |
Cybermalveillance.gouv.fr |
| Spanish organization |
INCIBE 017 |
| US nonprofit |
Consortium of Cybersecurity Clinics |
| DDoS attack on civil society |
Cloudflare Galileo, Project Shield |
| Nordic organization |
CERT-SE, CFCS, NCSC-NO, NCSC-FI |
Last updated: 2026-01