In New Eden there are several different areas of space with different rules, including high security, low security and null security space. In this article we will briefly go over how to fly safely in low security space.
High security space (highsec) is protected by the NPC police force called CONCORD. If you get unlawfully attacked by players in highsec, the police will intervene and destroy the attackers, as well as drop their security status. Sometimes they do it before your ship gets destroyed, other times they don't, this is called ganking.
But in low security space (lowsec) there are no NPC police ships, only NPC sentry guns near stargates and NPC stations. So other players can attack you with less penalties and risk compared to highsec. If they attack you on a stargate, then they will get a penalty to their security status, and the gate guns will attack them. These guns do around 500 DPS damage, so they can be tanked with shield or armor repair modules. However if you are for example at an asteroid belt or doing a mission, and you get attacked, then there is no NPC police intervention.
Fly what you can afford to lose: Generally in EVE, but especially in lowsec, you should only fly ships that you can afford to lose or replace. So don't bring your shiny slow Marauder to a busy lowsec system unless you know what you are doing. Start with flying small expendable ships like T1 frigates or destroyers, or ships that are hard to catch such as covert ops ships, interceptors or tactical destroyers, like the Hecate or Jackdaw in propulsion mode.
Do risk analysis on your route: Lowsec systems that are close to highsec are often camped by player pirates and PVPers, especially those in really busy areas or trade routes. Systems like Ahbazon, Amamake and Tama for example are very often camped. You can use websites like Zkillboard or EVE Gatecamp Check to do some risk analysis and see if there has been any recent PVP activity in the lowsec systems you are looking to visit or travel through.
Everyone who isn't a confirmed ally is a potential enemy: Make sure your local chat window is always visible, so that you see who is in the system with you at all times. People with negative security status tend to be more dangerous, as that is proof they have attacked others. You can again use Zkillboard to look up the PVP history of various players, corporations or alliances. Another website to use would be Localthreat.xyz. To use it, simply click the first name on your local chat, hold Shift, and click the last name to select everyone, then press CTRL-C and copy paste the list into Localthreat.xyz.
Always stay safe: If you are probe scanning in lowsec and unable to cloak, it is best to either create a safe spot in dead space, or at least warp to some random moon and pre-align somewhere. This way you can quickly warp off if any hostile ships appear on your overview. Also have the directional scanner visible at all times (press ALT-D and detach it from your system map), and occasionally press the scan button (or V on your keyboard) to see if there are other ships or combat probes nearby. If you see hostile combat ships or combat probes on the scanner, then they may be looking for you. If there are combat probes in space, then you should get safe immediately. However if there are hostile ships and you are for example doing a mission or an escalation, then they might not be able to locate you, so use your own discretion.
Pro-tips: Never ever use autopilot in lowsec, and never go AFK there either. Even at a safe spot players can scan you down. Nowadays cloaked ships can also be decloaked with a Mobile Observatory if they have been cloaked for over 15 minutes. Watch out for station campers, they may sell stuff in lowsec at low prices, wait for buyers to dock, and then undock right after them with a powerful PVP ship and try to blow them up.