At The Verge, some of the most impactful stories begin with a tip from someone who has witnessed something the public deserves to know. Whether it is about a major company's internal practices, a government agency's regulatory decisions, or the unintended consequences of a new technology, tips are the lifeblood of investigative journalism. Evidence is key: firsthand experience, revealing documents, or verifiable data are far more useful than a mere suspicion. If you have encountered something that you believe should be brought to light, we want to hear from you.

This page outlines the primary methods for securely sharing information with The Verge editorial team. It covers both traditional email and the encrypted messaging app Signal, along with important precautions to protect your identity and data. Please note that this is strictly for editorial tips. For advertising inquiries, technical support, or other non-editorial matters, you should visit our main contact page.

Why Secure Tipping Matters

Journalism has long relied on confidential sources to uncover truth and hold power accountable. From the Pentagon Papers to the Panama Papers, whistleblowers have played a vital role in exposing corruption, fraud, and wrongdoing. However, in an era of mass surveillance, digital tracking, and employer monitoring, the act of sharing information can carry serious personal and professional risks. Sources may face reprisal, firing, legal action, or even physical harm if their identity is exposed. Therefore, it is critical that both the media outlet and the source take every reasonable step to protect anonymity and confidentiality.

The Verge is committed to following best practices set by organizations like the Freedom of the Press Foundation. Among these practices is serving this page over HTTPS (the secure version of the web protocol) without third-party analytics or ad trackers. This means your visit to this page is as private as possible from the moment you arrive. No data is collected about your browsing behavior, and no external scripts monitor your activity. We encourage you to read the Freedom of the Press Foundation’s digital security guides for additional context.

Method 1: Email

Email remains the simplest and most widely used way to contact us. To send a tip, write to tips@theverge.com. However, not all email is created equal when it comes to privacy. Standard email (even Gmail or Outlook) is not encrypted end-to-end by default. This means that while your message is in transit, it could potentially be intercepted by internet service providers, hackers, or government agencies. Worse still, if you use your work email or a company device, your employer likely has the ability to read every message you send.

Important precautions for email:

• Do not use your work email address, work Wi-Fi, or any device provided by your employer. Use a personal email account, preferably one that does not include your real name (e.g., a ProtonMail or Tutanota account that supports end-to-end encryption).
• If you are communicating sensitive information, consider using a free, encrypted email service like ProtonMail. You can also encrypt your message using PGP (Pretty Good Privacy) if you have the technical skills.
• Avoid discussing sensitive details in the subject line. Keep the subject generic, like “Tip” or “Story idea.”
• After sending your initial tip, you may receive a response from a Verge journalist who will ask follow-up questions. At that point, you can agree on a more secure channel (such as Signal) for further conversation.

Remember: email metadata (who you are emailing, when, and from what device) is often more revealing than the content itself. Even if your message is encrypted, the fact that you contacted a journalist could be logged. Therefore, if you are at high risk, consider using the Tor Browser or a VPN to access your email, and avoid logging in from public networks.

Method 2: Signal

Signal is a free, open-source messaging app that provides strong end-to-end encryption for text messages, voice calls, and file transfers. It is widely recommended by security experts and used by journalists, activists, and whistleblowers around the world. Unlike email, Signal encrypts not only the content of your messages but also some metadata, such as who you are communicating with, by design. However, it is important to understand Signal’s limitations.

When you use Signal, the service stores your phone number and the last time you accessed the app. It does not store who you communicate with (the other party’s identity is known only to you and the recipient, not to Signal’s servers). Nevertheless, your phone number is still a piece of personal identifying information. If you are concerned about anonymity, you can take additional steps:

• Use a separate phone number — for instance, a prepaid burner phone or a virtual number from a service like Google Voice (though Google Voice numbers may be traceable).
• Do not install Signal on your primary phone if you suspect your device is compromised. Use a secondary device.
• Enable disappearing messages in Signal so that conversations are automatically deleted after a set period (e.g., one week).
• After starting a conversation, you can delete the contact from your phone’s address book. Signal will still remember the conversation thread.

To find a specific Verge journalist’s Signal number or email address, visit their author page on our staff list. Not all staff members may list their Signal contact publicly, but many do. If you are unsure who to contact, you can always start with the general tips address and we will route your tip to the appropriate reporter.

When using Signal, be aware that even though the app encrypts your messages, your phone itself may be vulnerable. Keep your operating system up to date, use a strong passcode, and avoid installing untrusted apps. Do not use your work phone for any confidential communication.

Additional Security Considerations

Beyond choosing the right channel, there are several best practices you should follow to protect your identity:

• Use a VPN or Tor: When visiting this page or any other sensitive website, use a trusted VPN service or the Tor Browser to mask your IP address and location. Your internet service provider and anyone monitoring your network will not see which sites you visit.
• Do not discuss your tip with anyone else: The fewer people who know you are considering speaking to the media, the lower the chance of accidental exposure.
• Avoid logging in to personal social media or email accounts from the same device or network you use for communication with journalists.
• Consider using a dedicated device: If you are in a high-risk situation, invest in a cheap smartphone or tablet that you use solely for communication with journalists. Reset it to factory settings periodically.

The Freedom of the Press Foundation offers detailed guidelines on how to lock down security on Signal, including how to use the “Screen Security” setting to prevent screenshots and how to verify safety numbers to ensure no one is eavesdropping on your conversation. We strongly recommend reading their guides before sending any sensitive information.

Examples of Successful Tips

Over the years, tips from readers have led to dozens of major exclusives at The Verge. For instance, we have broken stories about smartphone manufacturers using problematic components, internal documents from tech giants revealing privacy violations, and firsthand accounts from workers in data centers revealing unsafe conditions. Each of these stories began with someone who decided to speak up and trusted our editors with their information. While we cannot share specific details without compromising sources, the impact of reader tips is immense. They help shape public understanding of the tech industry and influence policy decisions.

What to Include in Your Tip

To make your tip as valuable as possible, consider including:

• Your relationship to the information (without revealing your identity if you wish to remain anonymous).
• Documents or recordings that corroborate your claims (note: we do not recommend breaking any laws to obtain evidence).
• Contact information for other potential witnesses — but only if you have permission to share it.
• A clear explanation of why you believe the public should know this information.

We prefer evidence over speculation. A detailed account of a specific incident, supported by internal communications, financial records, or photographs, is much more likely to lead to a published story than a vague accusation. If you have a document, consider sharing a redacted copy first and then discussing the full version after we have established a secure channel.

Final Tips for Safe Communication

Communication with journalists is protected by freedom of the press laws in many countries, but legal protections do not always prevent surveillance or retaliation. Always assume that your digital trail can be monitored. Be wary of phishing attempts: no legitimate journalist will ever ask you for passwords or payment. If you receive a suspicious email claiming to be from The Verge, forward it to our tips address for verification.

To reiterate: this page is free of trackers and is served over HTTPS. Our goal is to make your visit as safe as possible from start to finish. Whether you choose email or Signal, we appreciate your willingness to share information in the public interest. The Verge’s editorial team is ready to listen.

Source: The Verge News