One routine I have always made sure I follow on every protection assignment and on my own travels is information security by the removal and later destruction of litter. Most people will have some sort of understanding of protecting the client’s room number and personal details by booking under another name, diverting calls and screening mail. However, you should take this one step further by ensuring no schedules, flight stubs, receipts, letters, personal note’s or check in information is left in the room or vehicles. This includes both when you are checking out and during your stay where information is in view for cleaning staff and drivers.
Although this information may seem mundane, but in the wrong hands it can be used to embarrass or gain access to your client or even threaten their safety. By making it a habit to fully check rooms, including clearing out of bins of any litter, you will ensure that you are leaving nothing easily assessable to the wrong people. You are also making sure you do not leave any stray items behind, leaving you or your client ill prepared for your next hotel stay.
Most people don’t give much thought to what they are throwing out or leaving for someone else to dispose of. Paying of hotel cleaners or dumpster diving can lead to a wealth of information about an intended target. These pieces of information coupled with corporate profiles, tour date, social media accounts (Twitter, Facebook) websites and other open source information can lead to a detailed profile on your client and their future movements be formulated. Although you cannot control all aspects of information regarding your client you can make access to that information and the formulation of the larger picture more difficult and ineffective.
A good book to read on social engineering and the use of piecing together a larger picture through small pieces of information is “The Art of Deception” by Mitnick / Simon. Even though I have always taken information security seriously it wasn’t until I read this title that I realized I may myself unwittingly been engineered to disclose information I thought of no importance in the past.
Damon
July 22, 2010
Airport security: On two recent assignments in India I was able to view firsthand the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) at two international and two domestic airports. The CISF first came on the scene in 1969 however since then has grown and now has become a multi-skilled security agency, mandated to provide security to major critical infrastructure installations of the country in diverse areas. CISF is currently providing security cover to nuclear installations, space establishments, airports, seaports, power plants, sensitive Government buildings and ever heritage monuments. The first thing you notice approaching all the airports is the vehicle Check Points (VCP’s) usually with movable barriers slowing vehicles down along with what appeared to me as a fortified bunker directly facing towards traffic which provides a perfect fire lane for the armed officers . 
Upon arriving at the entrance to the departure lounges you are greeted politely by armed CISF officers and are required to provide your passport and either tickets or itinerary. I observed a number of people that had been turned away due to not having the correct documentation. On one occasion, I was sent to an external service counter due to an incorrect date on one of my connecting flights that was printed on the document as the day before the flight.Scanning of carryon luggage and personal items is the same standard procedures as most major airports worldwide; however, once you have gone through the metal detector, you are thoroughly checked with a hand held unit and pat down, regardless if you set it off or not. At one stage I thought due to the officers prolonged pat down of my groin area, I was going to get asked for my number. Each carry on item is tagged and stamped before you can proceed. When you finally get to board not only is your ticket checked by boarding staff, but also by a CISF officer along with your carryon luggage and the stamped tags on each item. Once again, I observed several travelers turned away at the gate, due to either purchasing baggage or packaging that was not tagged and stamped. All parties involved were sent back to security to have their items scanned.
I am unable to comment on their response procedures or time to actual threats or incidents due to the fact that at no time during my last two visits did I observe anything that required more than a smile and “No very sorry sir”. However, incorrect bookings, pushy travelers and vegetable curry’s aside, my personal experiences with India’s Mumbai, New Delhi and Bangalore Airports from a security stand point was one of attention to detail and great professionalism making my job that much more enjoyable.
July 20, 2010
What the ancients called a clever fighter is one who not only wins, but excels at winning with ease. But his victories bring him neither reputation for wisdom nor credit for courage. For inasmuch as they are gained over circumstances that have not come to light, the world at large knows nothing of them, and he therefore wins no reputation for wisdom; and inasmuch as the hostile state submits before there has been any bloodshed, he receives no credit for courage.?
July 8, 2010
