Description

Countering Stalking and Surveillance

Purpose

This short course equips learners with essential strategies to identify, prevent, and respond to stalking and surveillance threats. It addresses the growing need for personal security in both physical and digital environments, empowering learners to protect their privacy and safety effectively.

Rationale

Stalking and surveillance pose significant risks to personal security and privacy. This focused course provides learners with practical tools to detect and counter these threats, ensuring they can navigate their daily lives with confidence. By addressing these challenges, the course connects to broader security principles while offering actionable, real-world solutions.

Target Audience

This course is designed for individuals aged 18 and above, including professionals, students, and anyone concerned about personal security. It is particularly beneficial for those who suspect they may be under surveillance or want to enhance their awareness and counter-surveillance skills.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, learners will be able to:

1. Identify common surveillance techniques and recognize indicators of stalking.
2. Implement counter-surveillance strategies, including route variation and situational awareness.
3. Protect their digital footprint and secure devices against electronic surveillance.
4. Develop a personal security plan to disrupt patterns and enhance privacy.

Course Structure

Introduction

• Overview of stalking and surveillance threats and their impact on personal security.
• Discussion of the importance of awareness and proactive measures.
• Course objectives and what learners will gain.

Understanding Surveillance and Stalking

• Key Concepts:
  • Types of surveillance: foot, vehicular, stationary, and technical.
  • Motivations and perpetrators: criminal, personal, corporate, and state actors.
  • Vulnerabilities: predictable routines, geographic constraints, and digital footprints.
• Examples/Case Studies:
  • The predictable executive: how routine exploitation led to a planned robbery.

Surveillance Detection and Awareness

• Key Concepts:
  • The Cooper Color Code: White (unaware) to Red (threat confirmed).
  • Recognizing surveillance indicators: repeated sightings, unusual behavior, and vehicle patterns.
  • Surveillance detection routes (SDRs): baseline areas, choke points, and safe havens.
• Examples/Case Studies:
  • The banking executive’s detection technique: identifying a surveillant through a simple route variation.

Counter-Surveillance Strategies

• Key Concepts:
  • Route and schedule variation: disrupting patterns to confuse surveillants.
  • The “Gray Man” concept: blending into the environment to avoid attention.
  • Information control: limiting social media sharing and managing personal data.
• Examples/Case Studies:
  • The targeted professional: how a corporate attorney uncovered and countered digital surveillance.

Digital Security and Privacy Protection

• Key Concepts:
  • Managing digital footprints: auditing online information and optimizing privacy settings.
  • Device security: detecting spyware, enabling encryption, and using strong passwords.
  • Countering electronic surveillance: securing networks with VPNs and monitoring for tampering.
• Examples/Case Studies:
  • The Wi-Fi honeypot attack: how attackers intercepted sensitive information through a rogue network.

Conclusion

• Recap of key takeaways: awareness, pattern disruption, and layered security.
• Open floor for questions and additional resources.
• Encouragement to implement learned strategies and share knowledge with others.

Prerequisites

• No prior security training is required.
• Learners should have basic familiarity with digital devices and online platforms.

This course is designed to be practical and accessibl