Circuit Magazine

For Security & Protection Specialists

Social Media

Stop Procrastinating

Life can have a habit of getting in the way, as we have all seen in the past couple of years but looking inwards at the goals you set out for yourself, is it life that has stopped you from achieving them or is it barriers put up by yourself?

I have always liked to set goals for myself and work towards achieving them. Still, when life comes on top, and with a heavy workload, it is very easy to push things to the right and look to complete these goals later…….the only problem with this is whether the actual task or goal you have set yourself gets completed or gets forgone completely?

I have learned that the more you put things off, the more significant the task pile can become, and you can quite literally make a mountain out of a molehill where in the end, you accomplish nothing.

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Cyber Security Fundamentals – Deepfakes and Impersonation

Luckily when you make the pickup, you confirm with them. They’re surprised at the request as they don’t recall calling, and so you don’t make the route change.

Later investigation reveals that the call was made from a spoofed phone, using a real-time generated video and audio stream of the principal mapped to the live movements of some unknown adversary.

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Size vs.Skills-a.k.a: The Unfair Advantage

However, this lesson sticks out because I still think about it and even use it to this day. My dad told me that every person on this planet has an ‘Unfair Advantage.’ Something God-given that a person does exceptionally well or better than anyone else. He told me that some people could naturally run fast or dunk a basketball without even really trying. Some can figure out complex equations in their heads like Einstein or even maintain a full head of hair well into their old age. Whatever gift you possessed that you did better than anyone else was your unfair advantage.

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The Threat Posed by Fixated Individuals

The woman, who claimed she was engaged to Prince Andrew managed to persuade the security officers at the Royal Lodge to pay for her taxi fare. She then spent 20 minutes wandering around the Royal gardens before entering the home of Prince Andrew, Duke of York, where she was finally detained, and subsequently sectioned under the Mental Health Act.

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Conspiracy Theories Can Increase the Risk of Targeted Violence

A social climate of uncertainty provides fertile ground for conspiracy theories. Pandemics, for example, are predictably unpredictable—no one can say with certainty when one might begin, when it would end, or how long it might last. Combined with political and economic instability, a public health crisis like COVID-19 is rocket fuel for conspiracies. Under conditions of uncertainty, any information, even rumors, that helps direct negative emotions toward a specific target is psychologically comforting—it helps people manage their fear and anxiety. What if that target is your principal, a powerful business person, political figure, celebrity or high-wealth individual, who unwittingly becomes a central figure in an elaborate conspiracy theory due to their publically-known views, financial activities or associations?

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Longevity in Executive Protection

As a newcomer to the industry, I had huge eyes when it came to EP. Everything was exciting and new. Nothing seemed to matter but trying to get seen by agency owners and progressing along—all in the hopes of one day being among the best in the business.

I wanted to challenge myself. I wanted to protect people that had important or extraordinary lives while being recognized as a professional. So off I went like a herd of turtles (things are slow at first). I had no clue what I wanted to obtain but knew that it was going to be what I made of it. All I needed was an opportunity.

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Keeping Your Edge: Listen in Totality

Someone said this quote to me a long time ago and it really resonated. It was one of those things where the more I thought about what it actually meant, the more insight I gained from just those few short words. The quote itself originated from the American poet, Maya Angeolu. And while it’s very unlikely social media was on her mind, or even a thing, when she drafted it, I think it’s very fitting on how it plays into society today.

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So, you want to be a Hostile Environment Security Adviser?

“War correspondents” I mistakenly thought, were hand-picked for their skills set, fitness, mental toughness, awareness, and clean living. But no, what I found instead were individuals with many issues ranging from drug and alcohol problems to PTSD episodes to fundamental fitness concerns… the list goes on.

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Dangers of being a Journalist

Politics and motives aside, I think everyone can conclude these are very dangerous days for journalists, advocates of free speech or anyone else for that matter that voices an opinion. For the security consultant who is providing services to journalists, activists or opposition politicians these clients can give you some unique challenges as the threats can include harassment and arrest by local or state police, as well as threats from opposing parties etc…

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Staffing an International Team

When it comes to staffing an international team, I have five major considerations I look for in the team’s composition:  Operational Capability, Operational Chemistry, Operational Relevance, Operational Flexibility and Operational Capacity.

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YouTube Should be Part of Your Social Media Strategy

YouTube is the number two search engine right behind Google (go figure). Everyday 3 BILLION VIDEOS are viewed on YouTube everyday. Why? For me personally and I’m sure thousands of others would rather find a video on how-to fix a widget then read pages of text on a web page.

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The Great Firewall of China

From microblogs to what Google and Amazon says, China knows full well that unlimited, unaccountable and unsubstantiated news reports on the nation is simply not in its best interests, or pointedly its cultural interest! That may also mean news reports that are factually correct.

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Surviving Lockdown 3.0

No matter who you are, everyone has been affected by the pandemic, hopefully, all of us out there are surviving but no doubt there will be some that may be struggling more than most.

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Human Intelligence Could You Be The Next Target?

When you step into a new role where you have routine access to classified information, have access to large amounts of cash or other assets/valuables, or deal with sensitive business information, you may become the target of human intelligence or HUMINT. In light of this, this article covers the different aspects of the threat of human intelligence to keep in mind from the point of view of a corporate setting or government contract.

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Online Health Check for Protectors

As security professionals you may be an attack vector to your client if you do not maintain basic online security controls. At the very least you should be in a position to provide basic advice to your clients in order to help them stay secure.

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Social Media Policies

Anyone who works for you and has their work title/position linked to your company represents your brand and is responsible for your reputation. They can also be a liability for you and may become the weak link of your company and their online activities are such that your competitors can use it against you.

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Keeping Your Edge: Is Unity In Our Profession Dead?

As the President-Elect wrapped up his speech, now joined onstage by his extended family, my attention was on the members of the United States Secret Service who were close by.  I thought of these men and the job that they were tasked to do.  Not knowing them personally, I wasn’t aware of their political affiliations, were they a Democratic like Biden, or a Republican, rooting for the current President, Trump? They, like every other citizen of the country, were allowed to cast their votes, and could have picked either, or none. However, at that moment, on that stage, I don’t think it mattered.  These agents, surely knowing the risk associated with the occasion, were focused on the task at hand:  The safety of their protective charges, no matter their personal political affiliation.  

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Communication Planning – Hardware & Technology

It is inevitable if you work within the security sector that at some point, you will have has a radio thrust in your direction for you to use as your primary form of communication.
Yet many of you will not have received any significant training on it, yet this one tool that may just save your life.
In this article, we’re covering some of the things you might have missed.

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