How Monitoring Current Events Like the 2020 US Election Can Increase Organizational Security
Tensions around the US election are high for both ends of the political spectrum. There has been an increase in polarization and militarization and many Signal customers have expressed concern.
There are numerous threats that could evolve to seriously impact an organization, from natural disasters, to acts of terror, to targeted attacks on executives. Currently though, tensions around the US election are high on both ends of the political spectrum. There has been an increase in polarization of political views and even militarization of the public in recent months, and many Signal customers have expressed concern.
For many American’s this is seen as the most important election of their lives so far. Fears of voter fraud and voter suppression are rife, which is reflected by an unprecedented number of early votes being cast with more than 90 million votes already cast a week before the election, more than two-thirds of all the votes cast in 2016.
This, paired with a deadly pandemic and a summer of protests, many of which became violent, and one can see the potential for civil unrest around a contentious presidency. To mitigate this risk organizations need relevant intelligence as events unfold to ensure they take the necessary precautions to protect their employees and assets.
As such, we have created advanced tools to enable Organizations to be alerted as early as possible to issues and current events, such as the Election, where the possible fallout could have an impact on their employees and assets.
Monitoring Election Threats in Real-Time Using Signal OSINT
Using Signal security teams can learn of events as they are happening or even before they happen, allowing effective response plans to be enacted, effectively neutralising potential threats.
To do this users can create custom searches using Boolean Logic to filter intel from key web sources such as social media, the open web, and the dark web. Intel from these sources often acts as an early indicator alerting Signal customer to potential issues in real-time. The data can also be reviewed by our emotional analysis solution for increased data analysis efficiency.
Signal has real-time SMS and email alerting for high-risk threats so that companies can maximise available response time. Once alerted to potential risks the security team can form a final judgement on the threat level and decide whether action needs to be taken.
Final Words on Threat Monitoring with Signal
Threat monitoring isn’t just for events such as a contentious election. COVID-19, earthquakes, storms and other extreme weather events, and even threats of violence against specific executives, can all affect an organization. Signal OSINT software enables security teams to scan a vast number of surface, deep, and dark web channels and sources to gain real-time data on a broad array of emerging threats.
Anonymous social media forums like 4chan or dark web forums are often where threat actors go to communicate and organize. And social media is often where you can learn of current events as they unfold. So whether it’s customer data for sale online, or an active shooter situation in-store, security teams armed with OSINT can quickly assess and respond appropriately to mitigate risks and damages.
Only when an organisation has a complete picture that incorporates the variety of potential risks and has invested in specific responses and contingency plans can it adapt as needed to mitigate the impact of extreme events.
The Pivotal Role of OSINT for Effective Emergency Management
If an organization wants to prepare an effective response to an evolving threat landscape and better protect both their assets and employees they need to have effective intelligence for emergency management.
An emergency incident can happen at any time, often with very little warning. If an organization wants to prepare an effective response to an evolving threat landscape and better protect both their assets and employees they need to have efficient mitigation and response measures in place.
Data and intelligence form a pivotal role in emergency management. They allow security and event management teams to discover threats and accurately assess the associated risk levels. With this knowledge, they can enact an appropriate response to remove employees from harm’s way and prevent potential damages to the organization.
Data Performs a Vital Role in Emergency Management
Some of the ways data and intelligence gathered using Signal OSINT can be used include:
Better Situational Awareness. Save time and lives by rounding out your situational awareness with commentary, photos and videos posted online by the public and media.
Misinformation Management. Catch and manage the spread of misinformation in real-time before it spreads to the public and puts lives at risk, wasting precious time and resource.
Improved Agency Collaboration. Get a better view of what other agencies are doing during an emergency to ensure you allocate people effectively.
Geo-targeted Risk Assessment. Keep an eye on areas of interest, such as near a location of an event you’re hosting, and watch for disruptions such as extreme weather or terrorist threats near your offices.
Threats, Hazards, and Risks.
There are three main types of threats and hazards. First, natural hazards. This includes extreme weather such as hurricanes, earthquakes, and wildfires. These can cause extensive disruptions to a business. Such events are often seasonal and organizations should monitor for them during high risk months.
Secondly, technological hazards. These include power outages and infrastructure failures. For example, your business might be affected by your internet provider going down temporarily, or transport links might be disrupted meaning employees are unable to get to work.
And thirdly, man-made hazards. These include cyber-attacks and data breaches, terrorist threats or threats against assets or executives. These can happen at any time, however, often you can find indications on data sources such as darknet forums before the event.
The Importance of Assessing Risks Appropriately
The more data and information you have the more accurately you can assess the risk level of an emerging threat. For example, you might use Signal to set up real-time alerts on an evolving threat like spreading wildfires. This allows you to continually reassess and determine in a timely manner when or if you need to take action to ensure your staff are removed from harms way. However, there is a fine balance between under and over protection.
The Risk of Over-protection
Over-protection is when you initiate responses either too early or too extreme. Erring on the side of caution is always a good idea when it come to protecting employees, however, it can be costly and inefficient.
Over-protection is often caused by the following:
Personal interpretation of the threat level.
Not having enough data to form an accurate assessment.
Not having enough alert levels to allow a staged escalation of measures appropriate for the evolving risk level.
The Risk of Under-protection
Just as with over-protection, under-protection will inhibit the effectiveness of your emergency management response. This can place employees unnecessarily in harms way and means you will be unable to appropriately respond to a threat. The end result of under-protection is invariably higher than necessary associated costs.
To prevent under-protection there are several things that an organization can do:
Provide clear guidance on risk levels of certain threats and make the response increase easy to implement.
Continually assess and reassess the evolving threat landscape and update your alert level guidance accordingly.
Other Emergency Risk Management Considerations
We have already mentioned alert levels a couple of times in this article. This is because having clear guidelines and properly gradated alert levels will allow you to respond effectively and efficiently to crises.
Additionally, your employees should be aware of your response plans, especially to common threats. For example, if your officers are located in an earthquake prone area, have regular earthquake drills.
Finally, should an emergency happen you need an efficient way to communicate the danger to your employees and instigate the appropriate response.
Signal and Emergency Management
Up to the Minute Intel
Emergencies happen without warning. Signal is flexible and fast allowing you to react effectively to the situation.
Prevent Misinformation
Misinformation and media can cause havoc in an emergency. Stay ahead of the noise with a real-time feed of targeted data.
Email and SMS Alerts
Signal has email and SMS alerts which allow you to stay updated on key evolving threats in real-time.
Signal provides hyper-relevant intelligence on evolving threats as or even before they happen. This allows security teams to maximize warning times and enact mitigating measures.
Immediately, this means better protection for staff. This also has additional longer term upsides. For example, it might allow a security team to detect negative sentiment around the brand which allows them to identify and monitor potential threat actors and prevent a threat from evolving. Or, it could allow for a team to have early detection of a data breach, which according to IBM could save an organisation over $600,000.
6 Ways Signal OSINT is Improving Protection for Executives and VIPs
Security teams need to be able to spot threats to executives and implement an effective response in a timely fashion. In this article, we take a look at 6 key areas that Signal OSINT is used by customers today to advance protection measures for high profile executives.
High profile executives and VIPs are more likely to receive threats of violence, be at the centre of negative online noise, and to be the target for both cyber and physical attacks. This, when paired with their busy schedules (which often involve travel), makes staying ahead of potential threats a particular challenge for their security teams.
Attackers have a variety of reasons and goals for targeting executives and VIPs. It could be anything ranging from a reaction to company layoffs, to kidnapping for ransom. Whatever the reason though, security teams need to be able to spot the threats, understand the motives, and implement an effective response in a timely fashion.
In this article, we take a look at 6 key ways Signal OSINT is used today by customers to advance protection measures for high profile executives.
How Can Signal OSINT Improve your Executive Security?
Discover private information published online
There are several reasons that an individual might publish private information online. Often, it is in anger or as some form of revenge. The kind of information that has been found published online includes: names, email addresses and logins, physical address, details about an executives families, passport details, medical information, credit card and bank details, and SSN’s.
Having such information leaks opens up an executive to a wide range of potential threats. As a security professional, it is vital to know if and when there is a data breach so that the threat can be neutralized. The longer data is available online the more risk there is. For example, if card details are discovered online the bank can be contacted and the card cancelled.
Read: Detecting and Mitigating the Risks of Data Breaches
Identify direct threats
Sometimes threat actors are more direct in the way they threaten executives. This could, for example, be a direct threat of violence through an email, instant messaging service or public forum like social media. While the majority of such threats come from so-called “keyboard warriors” there are some which will require further attention and action.
For example, discussions might be uncovered on the dark web forum with details of a planned attack on an executive. With the prior knowledge of the attack action can be taken to reduce the associated risks.
One way to differentiate between someone that is simply venting their anger on a public forum and someone who genuinely might take action is to look for repetition of negative sentiment.
Emotional analysis
Emotional analysis gives data extra context which allows it to be better understood enabling a more effective and accurate response to the potential risks.
It also allows you to differentiate between when a negative comment is simply that, a negative comment, or when it needs more serious attention, for example, it’s evolving into a physical threat.
Read: When Does Negative Sentiment Become a Threat?
Misinformation is spreading about an executive
The spread of disinformation is problematic on a number of levels. For example, throughout COVID-19 misinformation has been spread regarding the virus, it’s root causes and best prevention practices. This has harmed efforts to curtail and control it. Another recent example is the role of misinformation in the 2016 US election.
There are numerous reasons that individuals and organizations spread misinformation, it could be part of a phishing campaign or an international political assault, for example. Whatever the reason the results are almost always harmful. When an individual spreads misinformation around a CEO or other executive there are real ramifications for brand and reputation which need to be managed.
To combat misinformation organizations need to be equipped with the right tools and understand both what they’re looking for, and the reasons for spreading misinformation.
Disruptive events are planned which could prove a threat to executives.
Events such as protests planned at or near an office or manufacturing location could present logistical problems and delays as well as potentially devolve into riots which would represent a physical threat. Having intelligence on the events and any salient information regarding individuals or groups looking to create trouble will allow you to take appropriate precautionary measures and prevent a threat from escalating.
Travel risks
All travel comes with some inherent risk. However, it is more pronounced for executives who are at increased risk due to the regularity of their travel and high profile.
Additionally, events like extreme weather or terrorist action may make a destination unsafe. As such, having an OSINT solution such as Signal offering an early warning of any particular dangers will enable you to plan alternative routes and otherwise avoid high risk scenarios.
Read: 4 Aspects of Effective Executive Travel Risk Management
Early warnings with real-time data
Using Signal you can create customized alerts filtered via specific keywords, phrases or even locations. We also have a built-in translation tool so that data can be searched across languages and automatically translated into your default language.
Additionally, you can run alerts through our emotional analysis tool to determine how much of a threat any particular alert is. Finally, get our optional Sapphire bolt-on and utilise our skilled data analysts to further refine your results.
This approach allows your leave your intelligence gathering on autopilot and not only effectively reduce costs but vastly increase the scope of your monitoring ability and the overall amount of hyper-relevant intelligence at your fingertips. All of this allows you to gather actionable intel in realtime.
4 Aspects of Effective Executive Travel Risk Management
Businesses have begun realising the importance of reducing travel risks especially for executives where the potential of risk is increased and the potential cost heightened. Signal risk intelligence software enables users to monitor the surface, deep, and dark web to better protect people and assets.
All organisations want to keep their employees safe, this goes across the supply chain and up to top executives. Whether they’re protecting them from the likes of terrorism, upset customers, natural disasters or road accidents, these risks are heightened when employees and especially executives travel.
Whilst threats to travel security are not limited to highly unlikely events, many serious threats like the sudden eruption of a volcano, or terrorist are, thankfully, things that most travellers never have to worry about. However, if COVID-19 has shown us anything it’s that no matter how unlikely a situation may be, they are still a possibility and could escalate incredibly quickly.
Businesses have over the last years begun realising the importance of reducing travel risks especially for executives where the potential of risk is increased and the potential cost heightened. In a 2017 study by Business Travel News of 229 travel buyers and managers and corporate safety and security managers, it was found that “65% said their companies' attention to traveller safety and travel risk management has increased over the past three years.” Ignoring the risks that travel holds could be an expensive mistake.
4 Essentials to Consider for a Effective Travel Security
Reliable Intelligence
Education
Briefings
Planned Response
Reliable Risk Intelligence
Without an accurate risk assessment and a detailed understanding of the potential local risks, a security team cannot make a properly balanced decision regarding operation security. It is incredibly important then, not just for teams to perform risk assessments before travel but to continually monitor local situations so that should things change the security team can react accordingly and take appropriate actions.
For example, as COVID-19 was evolving into a global pandemic security teams needed reliable information from trustworthy sources to allow them to properly understand the potential risks it posed as well as to navigate through the plethora of misinformation being spread. Teams using Signal OSINT were able to get this information and take preventative actions, putting secondary measures into place should the situation evolve. In this particular example, extreme action was needed. The security teams first suspended all executive travel to badly affected areas and as the situation evolved into a more serious global crisis they evacuated executives and employees who were overseas, before entirely suspending further business travel.
Without the proper information, the best course of action cannot be pursued. Situations change rapidly and timely intelligence will provide detail on current and future anticipated threats.
Staff Education
As part of an effective travel security program staff need to be aware of the potential dangers and have the tools and knowledge to minimise and mitigate personal travel risks. Risk can be dramatically reduced with good basic personal security methodology which is often the most cost-effective and efficient way to improve the safety of employees abroad.
Part of this education must be an ongoing effort to share with the relevant parties this real-time information from data sources gathered through tools such as Signal.
Debrief
With properly trained staff, the individuals travelling should be aware of the environment, threats and risks that they are entering. On top of this, as we mentioned above this information sharing should not stop at the briefing, but as the threats evolve the relevant individual needs to be kept up to date so that they can change their behaviour if necessary.
A Planned Response
The fourth aspect of an effective travel risk management plan is having planning a response to all possible crises. In certain locations, some aspects and threats are more prevalent.
For example, emergency services might be lacking or public transport might be more dangerous. In these cases, proper plans need to be put in place. For the latter, you might arrange a rental car for your executive, or a driver, if the road laws are known to be difficult. These preventative actions remove several potential threats which would be far more costly for the business than the cost of something like a driver.
There must be a pre-identified and rehearsed service in place to ensure an effective and timely response to an emergency.
Three main parts to an effective response include:
1. Prevention – The best security avoids or prevents threats from becoming risks. A good benchmark is to be able to identify the exact location of your employees and be able to effectively communicate with them within 15-20 minutes of an incident occurring.
2. Crisis Management – If a crisis does happen, the first thing you need is an effective communications channel. Through this, you need to be able to quickly implement plans and processes to manage the evolving crises.
3. Evacuation or Hibernation Plans – If a situation escalates beyond a certain point it may be that security teams need to implement and evacuation or hibernation plan. Which will either have the executive returned home, or hibernate in-situ until the situation changes. An example of a necessary evacuation plan being implemented would be in response to the Corona Virus. With only a little warning it became apparent to those organisations who had teams or individuals in Wuhan China that they needed to get them out of their fast. This situation then escalated rapidly to become a global crises.
Challenges
Travel security and executive protection comes with a number of challenges. It doesn’t look good to put a large amount of money into executive protection, however, there needs to be a balance to avoid potential risks. If an executive is attacked, or involved in an accident whilst abroad then shareholder value may drop, potentially for days, and sometimes the pressure in these scenarios can have negative effects long after the incident.
A situation can change rapidly, requiring a different response even as soon as hours later., which is why having real time intel of an event is so crucial. With the right systems in place and the right tools in the security teams toolbox, threats can be identified, monitored, and effective preventative measures and contingency plans put in place. All of this acts to protect both the individuals and the company involved.
The Role of OSINT in Managing Executive Safety During Travel
The modern workforce is more decentralized than ever. As employees travel or work remotely, it is important to know about potential issues that could impact their safety and security. Signal can assist with early warnings of:
natural disasters in or near destinations;
potential travel disruptions;
terror attacks;
security threats;
political or economic indicators.
Signal Open Source Intelligence software allows you to gather real-time data. More importantly Signal allows users to tailor their feeds to get customised data relevant to their particular situation. Which means instead of having to monitor every part of the web manually you can instead get customised filtered alerts.
On top of this, Signal risk intelligence software enables users to monitor the surface, deep, and dark web. Many dark web forums don’t allow strangers to access their sites and require authenticated logins which makes it even harder to gain access on to these sites and monitor potential risks that occur in these places which security teams need to be aware of such as data breaches, threats of physical attacks and terrorism.
Learn more about how Signal can improve your executive protection…