Anonymous, often referring to a person, is a state in which their identity or name is unknown. In whistleblowing, an anonymous whistleblower is someone who comes forward with information through an attorney or media.  

Whistleblowers who report to the media are not guaranteed protection if their identity is leaked. Thus, it’s advised that whistleblowers hire an attorney to communicate directly with regulators and the government on their behalf. 

Being anonymous should not be confused with being confidential, which is a state in which a person and their name is known. Some whistleblower programs do not permit anonymous filing, as the person’s identity must be known to the courts – especially in cases that involve a reward payout.