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Good morning
In another life, I was a Signals Intelligence Operator/analyst. I've talked about this a little before, but it's time for a thread about what that means
If you went to, or go to, protests, this article is about you: https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/homeland-security-portland/
In another life, I was a Signals Intelligence Operator/analyst. I've talked about this a little before, but it's time for a thread about what that means
If you went to, or go to, protests, this article is about you: https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/homeland-security-portland/
Read this excellent thread by @betacuck4lyfe for a more succinct version of what this means for you: https://twitter.com/betacuck4lyfe/status/1308270018874888192?s=19
Ok. Now let's talk about what I know
I did SIGINT from 2005-2010, which means all my knowledge is 10 years out of date. But I know the kind of information a phone can give and the way analysts use it
I did SIGINT from 2005-2010, which means all my knowledge is 10 years out of date. But I know the kind of information a phone can give and the way analysts use it
(Technically this is all classified. But it's info you can find elsewhere and more importantly, as far as I'm concerned, the US violated their end of the contract when they started using this shit on American citizens)
That LLVI shit they talk about in The Nation article? I was trained on that system
We can pick up every phone call you make. We can read every text. It's a matter of putting your number into the system. The machine does the rest
We can pick up every phone call you make. We can read every text. It's a matter of putting your number into the system. The machine does the rest
The "low level" part means the machine is short-range. The LLVI system they use/used is in Portland. This is a tactical machine, so it's portable. They can set it up anywhere they have a generator and a satellite uplink to a TS network (also portable, I used to maintain it)
This machine and others can also determine your location. Even in 2010 before ubiquitous smart phones we could do this. I have no doubt it's even easier now
THEY CAN DO THIS EVEN IF YOUR PHONE IS OFF
If your battery is in your phone, it is a homing beacon
THEY CAN DO THIS EVEN IF YOUR PHONE IS OFF
If your battery is in your phone, it is a homing beacon
What do we do with this information?
The Nation article nailed it: use of this technology means they think Antifa is hierarchical terrorist network, probably organized in cells like Al Qaeda
They're not just claiming this to win an election. They believe their own bullshit
The Nation article nailed it: use of this technology means they think Antifa is hierarchical terrorist network, probably organized in cells like Al Qaeda
They're not just claiming this to win an election. They believe their own bullshit
Somewhere in a DHS basement, people like me are creating network diagrams
They're mapping who talks to who and trying to figure out who the leaders are. Where are the orders coming from? Who's running the show?
Obviously the answer is "no one," but they'll find someone anyway
They're mapping who talks to who and trying to figure out who the leaders are. Where are the orders coming from? Who's running the show?
Obviously the answer is "no one," but they'll find someone anyway
Here's what they're looking for:
*People who talk to a shitload of activists
*People who talk to people in multiple affinity groups
*People who talk to activists in multiple states
Is that you? Congrats, you're almost certainly under suspicion
*People who talk to a shitload of activists
*People who talk to people in multiple affinity groups
*People who talk to activists in multiple states
Is that you? Congrats, you're almost certainly under suspicion
OK, so what should you do?
Acceptance is a good first step. Your shit is being monitored. Be aware of that at all times. Decide whether your need to communicate outweighs that risk
For me, it usually does. But don't be stupid. Don't send extended violence fanfic over DM
Acceptance is a good first step. Your shit is being monitored. Be aware of that at all times. Decide whether your need to communicate outweighs that risk
For me, it usually does. But don't be stupid. Don't send extended violence fanfic over DM
Like BC4L said in that thread, we think encrypted comms are safe. But they might not be. Accept that if it's digital, it's not 100% safe unless you REALLY know what the fuck you're doing (which I don't, honestly)
Use old technology. In 2001 the Army had to literary raid the dump to find SIGINT tech capable of monitoring Afghani comms because that country was 20 years behind. It seems counterintuitive to use older devices to avoid detection but the US focuses on the future, not the past
Get to know people in real life. This is important for any number of reasons, but for God's sake recognize how fragile the online world is. It's monitored, anyone can pretend to be anyone, and it can also stop existing
Ok this thread is already too long so I'll wrap it up. If you have questions, I'll do my best to answer
This is scary stuff. The US government is using weapons of war against the people it's supposed to protect and serve
With vigilance and knowledge, we can get through this
This is scary stuff. The US government is using weapons of war against the people it's supposed to protect and serve
With vigilance and knowledge, we can get through this
A lot of people are asking what old tech is good and I wish I could tell you. I can tell you what old tech was 10 years ago: encrypted radio
I don't know for sure if flip phones or bricks are actually better than smart phones, but I'd bet money that they are
I don't know for sure if flip phones or bricks are actually better than smart phones, but I'd bet money that they are
Something else I should mention, which seems obvious but might not be
Unless you're actively under investigation no one is listening to you in real time. What they ARE doing is vacuuming up all your calls/texts/location/metadata and storing it
Unless you're actively under investigation no one is listening to you in real time. What they ARE doing is vacuuming up all your calls/texts/location/metadata and storing it
If you become a target or of interest, THAT'S when they'll sift through your communications
So it's not a panopticon situation--maybe they're looking and maybe they're not. Once your number goes in the machine and the machine turns on, your shit is recorded and it's forever
So it's not a panopticon situation--maybe they're looking and maybe they're not. Once your number goes in the machine and the machine turns on, your shit is recorded and it's forever
Based on some private communications it seems that encrypted radio is probably the way to go, not flip phones
Again though, it's not practical to trade your phone for radio 24/7. For most of us there's just gotta be some acceptance in here somewhere
Again though, it's not practical to trade your phone for radio 24/7. For most of us there's just gotta be some acceptance in here somewhere
