Surveillance Detection & Counter-Surveillance Flashcards
6 cards from real SIA CP practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Surveillance Detection & Counter-Surveillance flashcards as text
What is an 'early warning system' in a CP counter-surveillance context?
Answer: Operatives or technical systems positioned ahead of the principal to provide advance notice of threats
Early warning uses forward-positioned operatives or sensors to identify threats before they reach the principal, maximising the time available to respond or evade.
Why is social media monitoring important in threat assessment and surveillance detection?
Answer: Threat actors may post information revealing their intent or capabilities; the principal's own posts may reveal their location or routines
Open-source intelligence from social media can reveal threat actors' intentions and capabilities; it can also expose the principal's own inadvertent disclosure of locations and routines.
What is a 'decoy' movement in a CP protective plan?
Answer: A movement by a decoy vehicle or person to draw surveillance or attack away from the principal
A decoy movement uses a vehicle or person mimicking the principal's movement to draw hostile surveillance or attack away, protecting the real principal who travels separately and discreetly.
What is 'OPSEC' (operational security) in a CP context?
Answer: Protecting information about the CP operation from reaching those who might exploit it
OPSEC encompasses all measures taken to prevent sensitive operational information — the principal's schedule, routes, security measures — from reaching adversaries.
What is the value of 'two-person minimum' rule in surveillance detection?
Answer: A minimum of two operatives allows one to watch the principal while the other monitors for surveillance
Two operatives allow dynamic split tasks — one maintains the principal in view while the other actively monitors for surveillance — improving detection without compromising protection.
What is 'blending in' and why is it a key skill for surveillance detection operatives?
Answer: Adopting appearance and behaviour consistent with the environment to avoid being identified as security
If surveillance detection operatives appear natural and indistinguishable from ordinary members of the public, hostile surveillance teams will not realise they are being watched, preserving the intelligence advantage.
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