Part of Muntjac Issue 2: Insurgency & Counter Insurgency
Anyone, even those not involved in militant action, would benefit from brushing up on their personal and/or operational security. We all desire privacy and in an endlessly accelerating world of technological domination the realm in which we can achieve this requires more complicated means.
We are not experts but we have two recommendations, that you and your crew (if you’ve got one) should spend some time checking out:
- No Trace Project [www.notrace.how]
- AnarSec [www.anarsec.guide]
We’ve included some statements by both of these groups.
No Trace Project
The No Trace Project is an international anti-repression project. Its purpose is to help anarchists, activists, and other rebels understand and avoid State repression.
If you engage in activities deemed illegal by the State, or otherwise disrupt the smooth functioning of our capitalist society, you may end up under investigation. You may even end up under investigation because of the activities of your friends. By taking security precautions commensurate with the risk level of your activities, you can thwart investigative efforts and avoid imprisonment or other negative consequences.
The No Trace Project covers not only digital security, but also a wide range of surveillance-related topics, such as video surveillance, police infiltration, fingerprints and DNA, tailing, and many others. Everything is available on their website, to read online or as printable zines.
AnarSec
As anarchists, we must defend ourselves against police and intelligence agencies that conduct targeted digital surveillance for the purposes of incrimination and network mapping. Our goal is to obscure the State’s visibility into our lives and projects. Our recommendations are intended for all anarchists, and they are accompanied by guides to put the advice into practice.
We agree with the conclusion of an overview of targeted surveillance measures in France: “So let’s be clear about our responsibilities: if we knowingly bring a networked device equipped with a microphone and/or a camera (cell phone, baby monitor, computer, car GPS, networked watch, etc.) close to a conversation in which “private or confidential words are spoken” and must remain so, even if it’s switched off, we become a potential state informer…