OPSEC for Group Meetings

[slingshot]

I had a guy I don't even know PM me (on another board) asking for my name, location, etc., to screen me for membership in a MAG (I guess?) If that was their idea of OPSEC, I wanted no part of them. I never answered.

I saw a thread somewhere, sometime ago, that had suggestions for group OPSEC. Now I can't find it. I would like to hear from you on suggestions for group OPSEC. I think every group on this board would benefit from your comments!

[Grinnan Barrett]

One of the things you will find is that a lot of new folks tend to live in a world where they trust everyone at first. Just look at all the new guys who want to set up a meet and greet before they even get a week into the site. I do not get into reporters, writers (other than my friends), and people who want my personal information over the net. GB

[Gus14]

If you are part of a group then you only need face to face interaction. If you are looking for a group on the internet, you have already blown OPSEC out of the water and it is no longer your primary concern.
Use internet to learn, work with those that will be with you in person. That is the safest way to go.

[FeloDeSe]

My personal opinion but military OPSEC sets a good standard. But in my daily life I don’t tell anyone anything that would ruin my chance at becoming president of any PTA in America (they are worse than the senate confirmation hearings)

[Grand58742]

If you are part of a group then you only need face to face interaction. If you are looking for a group on the internet, you have already blown OPSEC out of the water and it is no longer your primary concern.
Use internet to learn, work with those that will be with you in person. That is the safest way to go.

I wouldn't necessarily agree with this. Use of the internet can help find folks as well as learning a bit about them. You can use the net as your "touchy feely" stage as it's anonymous and you don't have to bring them into the fold full time so to speak.

Learn on the net first, invite to neutral locations second, get a feel for them at those meetings, then when the time comes and you are comfortable, bring them into the group. Works well enough.

As fro the Opsec in the workplace, I've found a few folks I work with in the prepper mode. More over things they've said and done and I guessed at it. They know what I do as well, so it's handy to work towards a common goal.

[Gus14]

Personally, I dont think the internet is as anonymous as we like to think it is. If some numbnut from Iran or China can launch a cyber attack that could shut down or at the very least disrupt financial institutions, communications, or power (for example) then I would have to believe that people within our own can find out exactly who you are or where you are posting from. Combine that with what this administration has said about people who believe in self sufficiency and self reliance I dont assume anything when it comes to OPSEC. I am more concerned with the increasing rate we are losing our freedoms than I am about the neighbor knowing I have a few things squirreled away.

[1Admin]

I'm always amazed with some of the newer crowds that misuse the words "survival group"- I've had people tell me that they met someone at a BBQ place for lunch one time and then in the next sentence say "I'm in his survival group." No your not, you met the dude once for BBQ.

I think the false reality brings false expectations. I'll never forget a heartbreaking conversation I heard one time at another forums campout about 12 years ago-

Older, quiet fellow from VA talking with several others about how no one was near him, that made him worried, etc.

Older, boisterious guy from Mississippi- "don't worry, we'll come and get you when the time comes."

Guy from VA was very nice fellow, very guillable. Upon later talking he seemed to TRULY BELIEVE some dude he knew off the net was going to somehow travel across five states and 'get him' when the time came. No flippin way. I could see the VA guy sitting there trying to send emails, call this fellow, etc. as TS was HTF thinking that somehow this dude that was one step away from a heart attack would somehow make this great journey and risk everything to get some guy he barely knew.

We would laugh at that and go "no one is that guillable." BUT PEOPLE ARE.

I have always looked at the net as an INTRODUCTIONS type of deal. It's like the stories you hear where the guy looks at the online dating thing and it says "SWF 5'4" model" and he goes to meet and it's a DUDE!

I can't tell you how many "I was a Ranger" types I've met over the years and trained with. You kinda get this "I don't know about him" feel and then you give a little test or two and suddenly you realize he can't hit his target at 50 yards, he walks right by 4 partially concealed targets on a jungle lane or he brings 4 guys with him that he claims he's known for years that are a part of his "crew" and then you over hear one of them say they JUST MET THE GUY that afternoon in his driveway before they drove to meet you...... All true stories altered just a bit to protect the guilty...

Internet is just for introductions, however paying attention you can learn a LOT about someone. Yet just understand that some people are completely different in person or completely different from how you MAY think they are.

[MustangGal]

One of the big lessons I learned in law enforcement is people lie. Honest people expect to be dealt with honestly, but they might be better served with a large dose of skepticism.

People lie for lots of reasons, not just to hide things. People lie to feel important, to try to impress people, to hide their real motives, because they are insecure, some are compulsive liars, some don't feel like "white" lies are wrong, and I think some people lie out of habit.

[tarheelsman71]

My group just had a meeting Sat night. Officially we get together once a qtr, but we do stuff all the time together. One topic of conversation that came up was email communications and txting. We decided that based on what the present regime's gameplan and proven track record is, that we would cease the email chatter and keep txt's to a minimum. While I do believe that there is a list somewhere with my name on it, I also dont believe that there is anybody analyzing that info at present. I have legally purchased firearms from gun shops. Therefore I filled out an FFL. I have purchased ammo online using a credit card. I have purchased MRE's and food stores online using a credit card. I have even purchased some Tannerite (man I love that stuff) to make shooting a lot more exciting. Point is, I am on the list. If you have done any of these you are probably on it too. This administration has shown that they wont follow search and seizure laws so being on a list wont hinder or hurt anymore than the .gov wants it to. As an IT professional with 20 odd years in the business, there is always someone somewhere that can listen. Most of the time though, it is when someone does something illegal or against Company policy and is found out, that is when the nerds are brought in to discover just how bad the transgression is. My group is all about self-preservation and our edict has absolutely nothing to do with overthrowing the gobermint so I argued that it was silly to shutdown emails, but democracy won out. :)

As for the group...If you have an established group that has been together and DONE things together for years then you do actually do have a group. If, like 1admin said, you barely know somebody then I wouldnt share shiznit with them.

[JethroBodine]

https://www.hushmail.com/about/

[Matt In Oklahoma]

I'm not saying anything online or at group that i cant say openly, why put yourself there? The internet is a tool like any other and Grand pointed out what we do somewhat and then until its decided by all in agreement they can only do neutral location stuff, mainly for the safety of families. Like LD3 stated too most "groups' are not true "groups" even including us. We are working hard but its not there yet and even many groups who think they are havent been tested so I still dont count them. There are alot of pretenders out there so move slow and take precautions cause the keyboard commandos will try and leech their way in with fancy talk and no action because they have to wash the car that day and attend the chess club meeting instead of your meeting. Even when they get caught they still hang around and chatter with everyone like they are doing

[xdpatriot]

I think it's ok to use the Internet as a tool to meet potential members. You can have lunch at the BBQ place or wherever, but that's a start. It takes a lot of meetings and potential months or years before someone is trusted with anything related to OPSEC. Once you loose anonymity, it's hard to get it back.

[tarheelsman71]

Jethro, Hushmail has been on the take since 2007.

http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2007/11/encrypted-e-mai/

[slingshot]

Thanks Jethro!

That looks interesting! Seems to me each group should have something like this. I wonder if it is really secure? Do you know of anybody using it? I wonder if it is more private that doing the PM thing through some prepper board?

[slingshot]

Jethro, Hushmail has been on the take since 2007.

http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/200...crypted-e-mai/

That's disappointing!