I had to sweep a house because of a tech savvy abusive ex and to make sure he’s completely cut off everything... and boy it was an interesting experience.

I really wish I could share more details but I’ll leave you with these in case it’s helpful:

- Think about when you can’t trust none of the electronic devices in your house. None.

- You might have to unscrew the power outlets to check for cameras, mics, etc.

- You might need to check where every cable goes in the house. There are some creepy ass shit you can find if the person owned the house and lived in it for a long while.

- You might need to reinstall the firmware of *every* connected device, and maybe throw away some stuff.

- Then you’d have to go through all the online accounts. Bills, banks, etc.

And perhaps the most important part is to remain calm and positive especially because you have to work with the survivor(s) to go through some of the most triggering details.

- Think about every packet of traffic as it travels across the house. You are working in an environment that has been architected by a psycho stalker you’re trying to cut off. They *always* have plan B/C/D to regain access.

- Don’t underestimate their motives and capabilities.

- I recommend throwing in a firewall like @pfsense. You can build it yourself or order it online. Block all the incoming traffic. Make sure everything is set to automatic updates.

- Simplify the setup as much as you can. I can’t stress this enough.

- And most importantly, document everything in simple language and explain how the survivor(s) can unplug everything if they feel unsafe. It’s not your job or place to decide whether that feeling is rational.

Your documentation should be clear enough for a non-technical user to to read and follow while having a panic attack. Remember that’s probably the most important time it’s gonna be used. Write an “incident response protocol”-like guide with clear short steps for emergencies.

And have in mind... every situation is unique. Listen carefully and pay attention to all the details.

I hope this is useful. I try to do my best and answer questions as much as I can over here or via DM.

We’re setting Kandoo up to help vulnerable people and similar situations. Tune in at @kandoo_tech for more details. And reach out if you need help. Just be patient with us as we’re a very tiny and new nonprofit org :)

I’m humbled by all the kind words! We’ve setup a donation page for those who want to help. Your contributions will allow us to continue our work this is the first time we’re accepting donations and I hope we’re doing it right https://twitter.com/kandoo_tech/status/1262183068103819265?s=21 https://twitter.com/kandoo_tech/status/1262183068103819265

I just noticed we've received $1,138 from 22 donations. I'm in awe. This means the world to me. Especially those $5 donations...

We didn't do any campaigning and this has been entirely grassroots. Every tweet, every message, every story and every single hard earned dollar you share with us fuels us to move forward and do better to give back to the people who need this work the most. I'm beyond grateful