We're the Military and Airpower Guys of Jonah Goldberg of National Review Online + a stray we found wandering around looking lost. All original material JHD, BHD, JR, WT, and KA 2003-2010 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/04/opsec_of_a_different_kind.html Sat, 24 Mar 2012 15:53:55 Z Movable Type 4.12 en Copyright 2012 http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification Here's a thought for you high-powered business types out there, who have their cell phones surgically implanted. You know the type - the Cyborgs, with the glowing blue phones where their ear used to be... OPSEC. When you shout out your end of the conversation, *someone* might be listening. Someone who knows what he's hearing. Like that contract for the Army your (firm) is bidding on. The one where you are competing with (firm). The one where your boss, (name redacted) who doesn't know policy from shinola, is screwing the pooch on. You know, the one where your Level of... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/04/opsec_of_a_different_kind.html http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/04/opsec_of_a_different_kind.html Fri, 21 Apr 2006 16:45:31 -0600 Comrades, It's even easier than you think to gain someone's data. Last Christmas, I was kicking up my heels in the local coffee shop, when in come Joe Yuppie and sits down behind me. He whips out his lap top and starts to furiously tap away using the cafe's free wireless. Ok. Well and good. I get up to get a refill and take a glance while I'm returning to my seat and he's online at L.L.Bean's doing some christmas shopping. Well, apparently he's unhappy with the website so he whips out his cell phone and calls customer service. Long conversation. Asks about thread counts on sweaters, where the wool comes from, etc. decides to buy. Orders a LOT of stuff. Starts to give out his clothing sizes, but stops for a second. He stands up, looks around to see who'se in the cafe, and then sits down and starts to tell, in a normal voice, his name, address, credit card numbers, the names of those who are getting gifts and THEIR adresses, etc. He then gives them his cell number, his HOME number, and his workplace and phone number there. Finally, he repeats the order confirmation number. I was amazed and shocked, but not unprepared. I had taken the liberty to copy all of it down while he was talking..... Well, initially I thought what fun it might be to order a bunch of stuff for him, say for example, women's unmentionables and have them shipped to his work address. etc. Maybe change the L.L.Bean order to some nice grey wool skirts instead of shirts. That sort of stuff. Sigh... I'm too honest, but I can think about it. What I did do was to quickly write out a copy of everything he had talked about and as he was leaving, say goodbye to him, calling him by name. He turned around and looked quizzically at me, saying "do I know you?" I responded, "NO.. but I know a lot about you. Here's the list". I gave him his data and told him he really ought to be more careful and less arregant about his personal data. I thought he was going to faint. Last saw he was sitting down and staring at the paper I gave him. I hope he gets it, but I suspect not. Respects, AW1 Tim http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/04/opsec_of_a_different_kind.html#comment-44254 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/04/opsec_of_a_different_kind.html#comment-44254 Sat, 22 Apr 2006 08:18:23 -0600 Well, it's not like you eavesdropped *on purpose.* Besides, all's fair in love and wa-er, gummint contracting. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/04/opsec_of_a_different_kind.html#comment-44249 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/04/opsec_of_a_different_kind.html#comment-44249 Sat, 22 Apr 2006 01:20:16 -0600 Heh...that is so funny. Two years ago I was in SD on a shuttle and a very similar thing happened. then there was the time I was on an airplane to somewhere and two people from a competing company were sitting next to me talking about a contract they were negotiating. I never said a word nearly the entire flight. Until the end, when we started chatting about passing drinks and they finally noticed me. The one guy asks me who I work for. Should have seen his face when I told him. Seems they got awful quiet the last 15 minutes of the flight. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/04/opsec_of_a_different_kind.html#comment-44246 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/04/opsec_of_a_different_kind.html#comment-44246 Fri, 21 Apr 2006 19:42:04 -0600