counter surveillance techniques counter surveillance techniques

Counter Surveillance: Electronic Search There are a number of electronic ways to search for hidden spy bugs. You also want to appear as a hard target, so they move on to someone else. The key to beating them is to identify and exploit their information gathering process (the surveillance itself) and hopefully end the attack before it begins. The best end location would be a cul-de-sac that has a sharp or continuous turn going into it, the kind that surprise you when you drive into it. Another method is using very sensitive thermal cameras to detect residual heat of a bug, or power supply, that may be concealed in a wall or ceiling. With a maximum range of 824 MHz - 7 GHz. Department of Homeland Security. Medical Bag Updates: Repacking & Maintaining Over the Counter Medications Go-To Preparedness Bags and Food Selections Consider the Three Ps Before Packing for Your Next Trip All Apparel Body Armor Camouflage Dive EDC Eyewear Footwear Headwear Lighting Load Bearing Night Vision Packs The Kepler Cardigan from PDW: Versatile Most surveillance, and most countersurveillance, involves human methods rather than electronic methods since people are generally more vulnerable and more capable of reacting creatively to surveillance situations. Surveillance may take weeks, months, or even years. It is related to ELINT, SIGINT and electronic countermeasures (ECM). images) through cyberspace. Other scholars refer to this framework as Deter, Detect, React. People who think in this mannerare at a major disadvantage as they havea mindset flaw with potentially lethalconsequences. According to famous EP author Peter Consterdine, anti-surveillance measures assist you in locating, identifying, disrupting, and reporting surveillance of all types. Advanced bugs can be remotely operated to switch on and off, and some may even rapidly switch frequencies according to a predetermined pattern in order to make location with sweepers more difficult. Many surveillance techniques use human methods rather than electronic. ANOMALIES & THEIR KEY INDICATORS PEOPLE KEY INDICATORS: People that appear to be out of place In times of chaos, simply beingprepared can make you a target for those whofailed to secure their own means of survival. Recognizing that the bad guys arepresent is the first step of the battle. The goals are to trick the attacker and prevent the attack by ending or thwarting the surveillance. Apassenger exits the vehicle behind you andstarts approaching your drivers door withone hand inside the zipper of his coat. By looking for 1) people, 2) objects, and 3) behavior thatdeviates from what you expect to be normal for that time and location, you will be ableto squirrel out much more than just surveillance. WIRED, 3 Feb. 2023 That day, Rhodes attracted the attention of a US Capitol Police When you see someone over TIME,in multiple ENVIROMENTS, throughDISTANCE or displaying unusualDEMEANOR, Paying too much or too little attentionto you, Following (changing lanes with you,exiting with you, running red trafficlights to stay with you), Keeping hands hidden (pre-assaultbehavior), Attempting to look preoccupied butstill displaying interest in you, Sitting in vehicles for extended periodsof time, Making communications as you departor arrive, Vehicles (out of place, seen repeatedly,too nice/too beat up for location), Open mailboxes, disturbed trashcans,items out of place, Reflections or lights (potential cameraindicators), Unusual vehicle attachments (GPSunits on your vehicle or camerasmounted on other vehicles), Piles of cigarettes on the ground outsideof a vehicle window, Unusual or out of place objects (hiddencameras). They will move on to someone else (sounds familiar I know). You may just catch that burglar during his surveillance after all! Its going to be impossible to tell an Officer you thought you were being followed so you were going 30 over (unless you actually were and called 911 to report it). Simply put, questions that need to be answered are the root causeof all surveillance activity. Countersurveillance is different from sousveillance (inverse surveillance), as the latter does not necessarily aim to prevent or reduce surveillance. You want to disrupt the take-away. Technical surveillance can also include optics such as binoculars, spotting scopes, night vision equipment, infrared cameras and wireless and remote images transmission technology. Another superficial but exciting debate is if Anti fits the etymology for ongoing SD operations (preventive or reactive) rather than Counter. Same debate in, -terrorism. We recommend that you use an alternative browser for many reasons including greater security and a better experience when browsing the web. Technical Surveillance Countermeasures (TSCM) can best be defined as The systematic physical and electronic examination of a designated area by properly trained, qualified and equipped persons in an attempt to discover electronic eavesdropping devices, security hazards or security weaknesses. Possible violations of non-compete agreements in business relationships can spark investigations. ANOMALIES & THEIR KEY INDICATORS PEOPLE KEY INDICATORS: People that appear to be out of place One definition I like is The secret, continuous, periodic watching of persons, vehicles, places or objects to obtain information concerning the activities and identities of individuals. Its all about information gathering. Countersurveillance may include electronic methods such as technical surveillance counter-measures, which is the process of detecting surveillance devices. Learn more about joining our Community as a Crew Leader. WebTo counter these, techniques such as simply being situation-aware and avoiding certain locations can be sufficient to counter the threat of surveillance. Additionally, Ami Tobens book Surveillance Zone touches on all aspects of surveillance and is worth reading. In retrospect, you recall this car has been behind you since you left there. You have no set scheduleand have not communicated your planfor the day with anyone. A QUICK GUIDE TO BECOMING A SURVEILLANCESUBJECT. Pull into a rest area and let traffic go past. Sorry. He is just hanging out in frontof a business when you walk by, and thenlater when you exit the caf he is lingeringacross the street. Passive anti-surveillance tactics take place constantly. Use Surveillance Detection Routes (SDRs) The best way to avoid surveillance is by varying your routine and avoiding routes you habitually use. Besides taps and bugs, specialized shotgun mikes can pick up your voice from a distance of up to 300 feet. Employing passive or active approaches to surveillance will depend entirely on your overall goal. But the key here is not to let them gather information on the routes you take. 9 Surveillance Techniques for Private Investigators - NITA All is not lost. WIRED, 3 Feb. 2023 That day, Rhodes attracted the attention of a US Capitol Police There may be a great attack site on one of your routes, but if you deny them the opportunity to follow you on that route they may not know about it. Cyber crook who captured nude photos of Miss Teen USA 2013 by infiltrating through the webcam in her home. Counter surveillance is a procedure that is used to identify and detect ongoing surveillance to develop a suitable countermeasure. Click the Learn More button below for details. Sometimes things dont go according to plan. Before you can employ active countermeasures to defeat a surveillance you need to be aware that something isnt right.. Department of Homeland Security. The sun has not even begun its climb this early in the morning and you are leavinghome to go to work. One of the upcoming articles will be about checking your vehicle. Theyve learned through on the job training from others moreskilled than they are. In other words, the potential attackers or intruders should suspect or be sure that you detected them. Thereby, you ensure that the telephone and VIP desk is not in sight of high ground or building. Since sweeping such a vast area for possible spies would be impractical, walking and talking with someone on a busy, noisy street is a fairly effective way to elude this method of eavesdropping. You look out the window and seethe surveillant (strange van) parked acrossthe street in another lot. The lunch crowds have thinned outand you are approaching a more industrialside of town. The 21st-century survivalistneeds to recognize that otherpeople can pose as large a threatto their well-being as anyenvironmental or circumstantialscenario. The CIA, MI6, and operatives worldwide know that surveillance and counter-surveillance skills can mean the difference between life and death. We explore the different countersurveillancemethods available including technical, cyber and structural measures. of disease surveillance is to predict, observe, and minimize the harm caused by outbreak,epidemic, andpandemic situations, as well as increase knowledge about which factors contribute to such circumstances. It can activate within seconds and lets even new users sweep and identify different frequencies with ease. Your direction is not usually known (since you switch things up), evasive moves can be made early, they are not sure when you may move and you may move quickly. May 2002 - Jul 202220 years 3 months. The bad guys do not need to learn about counter surveillance because they are alreadygood at defeating it. The glow could be that of aphone screen. In instances where surveillance techniques such as the use of a mobile phone to record information are prohibited, mobile phone blockers and detectors are available. What do you have? He stands out to you becausehe is wearing baggy street clothes,but everyone in this part of town at thistime of day is wearing business clothes. What are your patterns? WebTechnical Surveillance Countermeasures (TSCM) can best be defined as The systematic physical and electronic examination of a designated area by properly trained, qualified and equipped persons in an attempt to discover electronic eavesdropping devices, security hazards or security weaknesses. When you believe that someone is carrying out hostile surveillance against you, counter-surveillance is a way to confirm or disconfirm your suspicions. TSCM surveys, or bug sweeps, involve the systematic search for illicit bugs or eavesdropping devices. Take pictures (or recordings) of the spy device for evidence. First of all, dont touch the camera. Sources of Unwanted Attention WebYou can avoid many common methods of surveillance by using some basic counter surveillance techniques. Even if they pick out the first and last choke point in your route, you will be ready and have a plan in place if a attack happens. Lets now highlight the differences between counter-surveillance and anti-surveillance. This is when the target (you in this case) leaves a location and starts moving. I speak from personal experience on this one as Ive dropped the ball on a take-away or two. WebTechnical Surveillance Countermeasures (TSCM) can best be defined as The systematic physical and electronic examination of a designated area by properly trained, qualified and equipped persons in an attempt to discover electronic eavesdropping devices, security hazards or security weaknesses. Shop the ITS Store for exclusive merchandise, equipment and hard to find tactical gear. In order to protect an organisation against the threat of physical interception and access, social engineering techniques such as Physical Penetration Testing can be used to examine how readily access can be gained into a building by a non-authorised individual and then to address any weaknesses in the physical security protocols. A van like that will cause every parent in the neighborhood to eye you with suspicion. Does a vehicle move when you move? He wasnt effective at all since he was just being a putz and not watching how we were reacting and adjusting. Broadly speaking, anti-surveillance comprises passive and active approaches. Hours later, you are on your way home from work and stop to get gas. As you walk by the vehicle, you can hearthe pinging of an engine that is coolingdown. These are the areas where you need to be vigilant. If you would like to know more about Mitie Intelligence Services, please complete this form and we will contact you. Actually, as soon as you establish that somebody is monitoring your principal, dont deviate from your daily routine. Another technique is to focus on the integrity of one secure space in which confidential conversations and information can be undertaken in confidence. Having a camera, binoculars, or a notebook on the dashboard are dead giveaways. However, sophisticated devices may only be detectable by professional-grade equipment due to the frequency or range of frequencies they use or the devices may use techniques to avoid being detected such as remote activation and inactivation. Understanding these counter-surveillance techniques can mean the difference between getting home safe or ending up in someones trunk. WebJust as terrorists conduct surveillance before hitting a target, it is common for the crooks of the world to carry out intelligence gathering (very much an ironic term in this instance) prior to striking, regardless if the goal is kidnapping, robbery, assault, or simple burglary. These may involve business competitors, legitimate legal investigations, disgruntled employees, members of the press and even criminals. This can help with your take-away. As you are fillingyour tank, you notice what could be the same vehicle across the parking lot. Counter Surveillance (CS) Counter surveillance is a follow-up measure that is taken only after hostile surveillance has been detected. WebTechnical Surveillance Countermeasures (TSCM) can best be defined as The systematic physical and electronic examination of a designated area by properly trained, qualified and equipped persons in an attempt to discover electronic eavesdropping devices, security hazards or security weaknesses. You turn to look over yourshoulder and he acts noticeably startledby your eye contact. As you areexiting the building at one of your stops,you notice a vehicle parked near yoursthat you recognize from the last stop. The front end of the car is directly facing you and person in thedrivers seat appears to be preoccupied with something. As you are pulling out of your driveway, you notice acar parked on the side of the street. Indeed, it is a must for them because of the high vulnerabilities present in that protection scheme. Structural Countermeasures Make them move on to the easy target or make them realize they are going to have a fight on their hands. They have set the time and place that you are the most vulnerable and most exposed. A key part of modern disease surveillance is the practice of disease case reporting. Lens detectors to detect the lenses of wired or wireless concealed covert cameras. Sometimes things dont go according to plan. Counter Surveillance (CS) Counter surveillance is a follow-up measure that is taken only after hostile surveillance has been detected. Far too many people underestimate simple precautions such as shredding mail, locking mailboxes, and using a screen saver on the computer. Of course, all the usual suspects come tomind. Most bugs emit some form of electromagnetic radiation, usually radio waves. On a national level, counterintelligence operations exist to monitor and protect against surveillance by other nationalities or criminal groups such as terrorists. The more professional a team is, the fewer anomalies they will create to alert you, soattention to detail is the key. In fact, any time you are involved in an accident your privacyis endangered. Fortunately, here we will equip you with the techniques to confront them all. Instead of transmitting conversations, bugs may record them. There are minimal anti-surveillance movements specifically targeted to Canada at present. For example, do you have the time and the resources to continue with your routine and establish acovert surveillanceteam to watch the watchers? For example, if someone attempts to cause physical or reputational harm to your principal, they will likely do it through surveillance. Moreover, the likely so-called target areas of bugging cover: Luckily, there are tried and true methods to counter all these malign activities. Since we are talking about individual techniques you wont have the luxury of having agents set up a Surveillance Detection Route. With a maximum range of 824 MHz - 7 GHz. This page was last edited on 15 November 2022, at 13:41. This campaign is active worldwide. Once again, no onefollows you to your last destination whereyou are going to get your oil changed. Some surveillance processes can take weeks or months of information gathering. Detroit, Michigan, United States. Counter surveillance is a procedure that is used to identify and detect ongoing surveillance to develop a suitable countermeasure. A van like that will cause every parent in the neighborhood to eye you with suspicion. He is right behindyou. Workers compensation cases frequently lead to surveillance. The signs were there that someone was watching you as another personor group of persons broke into your house. The United States Department of Defense defines a TSCM survey as a service provided by qualified personnel to detect the presence of technical surveillance devices and hazards and to identify technical security weaknesses that could aid in the conduct of a technical penetration of the surveyed facility. Due to traffic jams or surveillance efforts by malefactors, we deem it wise to choose the right car [], [] In fact, the executive protection agent who takes care of you and your immediate surroundings is not looking for any trouble. Speeding up, slowing down, making three right turns, stalling at a green light, taking a one way street, and making a dead stop are a few techniques you can use. Any time someone wants toknow what you have or what you know, you are in danger. On a national level, counterintelligence operations exist to monitor and protect against surveillance by other nationalities or criminal groups such as terrorists. Copyright 2023 Mitie Security Ltd. All rights reserved. He had no idea he was being watched during the selection phase of a surveillance. If you or your principal have noticed that somebody has been following you, it These usually covert techniques are an entirely other skill-set again. They dont look out of place in almost any situation. If both of these have a good vantage point to your front door or street that may indicate you are being watched. If you have passed this self-assessment quiz, youare ready to learn active counter-surveillance techniques. Regardless of the purpose of theirsurveillance, the surveyors count onyou to not detect them or their mission might fail. Do they have a valid reason to be there? May 2002 - Jul 202220 years 3 months. So does the last choke point along your route. 9 Surveillance Techniques for Private Investigators - NITA All is not lost. This also goes for someone who is attempting to watch you. Themechanic puts the car on the lift and comesback after a few minutes with a plastic boxwith strong magnets attached. Counter-measures like burst transmission and spread spectrum make detection more difficult. A key part of modern disease surveillance is the practice of disease case reporting. Far too many people underestimate simple precautions such as shredding mail, locking mailboxes, and using a screen saver on the computer. If you dont believe that someone is watching you, you wont be motivated to respond to the threat. If that switch is on, there is a big probability of preventive success thanks to the interruption generated in the early stages of an attack cycle. Instead, you will maintain a heightened level of situational awareness to ensure a successful operation. The terrorists thought he was dialed in and was checking for bombs each morning. As you watch them, you noticeevery so often the driver glances in your direction and even seems to make accidentaleye contact with you. Another strategy is to utilize a room for safe conversations with these requisites: TSCM (technical surveillance counter-measures) is the original United States Federal government abbreviation denoting the process of bug-sweeping or electronic countersurveillance. As well as measures such as an absence of windows, electromagnetic shielding and strict access control can be implemented for an existing room such as a boardroom, a secure room or faraday cage could be installed to provide assurance of electromagnetic interference protection. What was thefirst red flag that really made you want to act? Youve just turned down a narrow sidestreet. Training, Scenario Testing & Live Exercises. Attackers deploy according to the information received. It is straddling the parking spot lines as if theyhad to back in quickly. Hazmat crews and many fire trucks routinely carry such equipment with them, and they would probably be the first to detect abnormal levels The device is found by locating a hot spot the device generates that can be detected by the thermal camera. If you can deny information gathering and show yourself as a hard target you will force the attackers to make a couple of choices. Counter surveillance is a technique used to detect and recognize ongoing surveillance to develop suitable countermeasures. So you need to play it smart here. Like adouble-edged sword, awareness can cut in bothdirections, so we must take the initiative togain control and use it to our advantage. Surveillance Detection is a series of techniques that you can employ to identify if you are being followed. They are intended to check the spy's access to confidential information at the selection and collection phases. For instance, a counter-surveillance move could mean driving erratically to prevent a mobile surveillance team from following you. Frequency range of 10MHZ to 10GHZ (widest range of any handheld device on themarket), Various indicators including battery life, vibration, and 16 segment bar graph for signal detection, Detects video, audio, digital or analog signals, Varying degrees of detection help you pinpoint the exact source of frequency, Hidden Spy Camera Detector: it uses a magnetic sensor, as well as infrared detector, Spy Hidden Camera Detector: free, and easy to use, Anti-Spy Camera: it uses magnetic fields to detect hidden cameras, Spy Camera Detector: uses an infrared camera detector to detect glints. Sources of Unwanted Attention Find a route that snakes you deep into the neighborhood and ends in a cul-de-sac. A key part of modern disease surveillance is the practice of disease case reporting. It can also include covert listening devices, visual surveillance devices, and countersurveillance software to thwart unwanted cybercrime, such as accessing computing and mobile devices for various nefarious reasons (e.g. Concerned, you watch your mirrorsas you leave the parking lot and the vehicledoesnt follow you. In addition to these industries, there is the criminalelement and countless government agencies. Instead, he says he is surprised to hear about your work transfer to anotherstate. Very sensitive equipment could be used to look for magnetic fields, or for the characteristic electrical noise emitted by the computerized technology in digital tape recorders; however, if the place being monitored has many computers, photocopiers, or other pieces of electrical equipment installed, it may become very difficult. Amidst concerns over privacy, software countermeasures[2] have emerged to prevent cyber-intrusion, which is the unauthorized act of spying, snooping, and stealing personally identifiable information or other proprietary assets (e.g. Besides taps and bugs, specialized shotgun mikes can pick up your voice from a distance of up to 300 feet. Where are yourweaknesses? Conversely, anti-surveillance encompasses techniques to enable you to do what you need to do, despite realizing that you are under surveillance. Beware, however, because awareness isthe first step in a bad guys victim selectionprocess that can make you a target. You do not recognize the vehicle and no one in your neighborhood parkson your narrow street. It is your day off and you have lots oferrands to run. Bad guys have a lot of resources and I dont feel writing these articles will help them any more than they can already help themselves. Looking around may make the person watching you think you are looking right at them. With a maximum range of 824 MHz - 7 GHz. Having a camera, binoculars, or a notebook on the dashboard are dead giveaways. There are numerous ways to check yourself and its only limited by your time and creativity. Surveillance detection is using countermeasures to deny them information during the selecting and collecting phases. Fortunately,there are ways to identify whether you are indanger of becoming a victim. Predators are specificallyseeking people who are unaware. One categorization divides surveillance tactics into stationary and mobile. Aneighbor is getting his mail, so you walk over to see whether he knows what caused themuddy ruts. They differ significantly and have a wide range of applications depending on the situation. This is where being a hard target comes into play. The standard counter-measure for bugs of this nature is to search for such an attack with a radio frequency (RF) receiver. Or are you limited with both and want to expose those conducting surveillance on you and your principal? Easy-peasy! What are your vulnerabilities? They are intended to check the spy's access to confidential information at the selection and collection phases. A surveillant always has questions which they attempt to answerby watching you. The Kepler Cardigan from PDW: Versatile Adventurer Insulation. This type of SDR is only going to work if you are the only one that knows the area or if the person following you doesnt have GPS. Doesthis sound like it could apply to you? By simply being alert and aware, the potential victim raises the risk level for the bad guy, which in some cases, is enough to make them seek other opportunities.. Information on news, history and events both inside ITS and throughout the world. You musttake away their initiative by being equally (or more) aware of them. Multiple sightings of the same person, vehicle, or activity may confirm youre being watched. Lets now highlight the differences between counter-surveillance and anti-surveillance. Who do you interact with? Electronic eavesdropping, or bugging, is currently unrestricted or goes disregarded in many countries worldwide. When do you leave home? Your principal isnt always the target of surveillance efforts. That way, you can quickly identify the whole surveillance team. In fact, you are sure noone followed you down the small countryroads to your next stop. WebHow can you tell if someone is following you?First of all, make sure you are doing the basic check to see if you are being followed. Dash Cams: they can be installed on your dash and are in some cases, very difficult to spot if you dont look closely for them. Amnesty International runs a campaign called #UnfollowMe that "calls on governments to ban mass surveillance and unlawful intelligence sharing", inspired by Edward Snowden leaking thousands of NSA documents that revealed information about mass surveillance in the U.S. International Association of Privacy Professionals. You finish lunchand come back to your vehicle and to yourdismay the same vehicle is present again! The assailant chooses a possible victim and start gathering information. When are you vulnerable? More importantly, to render laser microphones less effective, use: As a matter of fact, use all three if possible. This, of course, includes you! To counter these, techniques such as simply being situation-aware and avoiding certain locations can be sufficient to counter the threat of surveillance. WebTo counter these, techniques such as simply being situation-aware and avoiding certain locations can be sufficient to counter the threat of surveillance. If youre sharp you should be able to pick out that odd person that just doesnt fit. Since sweeping such a vast area for possible spies would be impractical, walking and talking with someone on a busy, noisy street is a fairly effective way to elude this method of eavesdropping. WebCounter surveillance techniques are intended to combat the harmful impact of surveillance tactics. The take home message from this article is that if you suspect surveillance you should alter your route and times to avoid a possible attack. As if their every move is recorded, they ought to conduct their daily affairs as though they are aware of someones watchful eye. If you areseen interacting with someone or spending time in a locationthat is being watched, you can get infected. Same as the really old wordcounterattack.