Have You Backed Up Your Back-Up Plan?

Author

Circuit Magazine
October 01, 2021

As protectors, certain mantras are drilled into our skulls. One that comes to mind is the 5 Ps: "Prior Preparation Prevents Poor Performance."

We'll see a little later in the newsletter how one pilot of a private jet forgot to keep this adage in mind!

Meanwhile, across the pond, we welcomed in-person events again into our lives. UK-based Circuit readers and BBA members made a proud showing for networking and camaraderie in London at the International Security Expo.

This week we have our regular lineup of offerings including another riveting episode of our podcast where we discuss preparation and operational readiness with Joe Gehr.

So, no matter whether you're just finishing the working week or packing your bags ready for a weekend assignment, take these wise words from Joe with you...

"Have a plan, do your homework and have a backup plan. Then have a backup plan to the backup plan!"

Stay safe, all!

At A Glance:

  • Don't Forget to Back Up! - Plans A, B, C and D.

  • Can I Get a Job? - The no-strategy, strategy.

  • When You Gotta Go... - Prior preparation prevents...

The Circuit Magazine Podcast

Operating in any foreign or unknown environment will present challenges and Latin America is no exception. The continent of South America is vast, rich, and diverse with cultural, economic and political threats differing from region to region but what generalisations can we make, if any, to enhance our protective operations?

This week our guest is Joe Gehr, founder of Technon LLC, a company with a large focus on tailored security solutions for clients operating in Latin America. In addition to being a native of the LatAm region, Joe shares his vast knowledge of extensive regional operations.

In this episode we discuss:

  • Threat Landscape - An up-to-date overview of the current operating environment

  • Cultural sensitivities - what to look out for and how to reduce the friction.

  • Common threats - What unique challenges do protectors need to know.

  • The Miami/LatAm corridor - Why Miami should be your first port of call on any LatAm trip.

If you enjoy listening to the Circuit Podcast and can spare a minute, please rate/review us. Your rating will help us to rank higher making it easier for others to find the podcast.

The Need to Know

Authorities say the violence at the Litoral prison in the coastal city of Guayaquil was caused by gangs linked to international drug cartels.

“It is not surprising that individuals who receive money from Big Tech are defending Big Tech,” Rep. Ken Buck (R-Colo.) said.

North Korea on Monday accused the United States of hostility and demanded the Biden administration to permanently end joint military exercises with South Korea.

Chicago’s weekend gun violence left at least eight people murdered, and at least 60 people shot, including a paramedic grazed by a bullets when someone opened fire into the window of a hospital, as well as a police officer struck in a leg while responding to a shots fired call.

The United States and Russia will hold their second round of strategic talks later this week as the two sides attempt to resolve myriad differences ranging from nuclear weapons to cyberspace.

According to the Better Business Bureau, cyber criminals are using new software that can infect your iPhone, even if you don't download anything - and even if you don't click on a link. It's called a "zero-click" attack and it can take control of your device.

For more timely global updates like this, get the Circuit Daily Briefing delivered to your inbox... daily! Get on the list >

From the Pages of the Circuit Magazine

I’m sure everyone has heard the expression, “you never get a second chance to make a first impression.” So, knowing this, why would someone reach out cold to a prominent industry insider with the line "Can I get some work?"

In his regular column, Elijah Shaw digs into the psychology of this approach and looks beneath the surface to understand what is going on. He also delivers his blunt assessment of the work prospects you can expect if you follow this strategy.

If you enjoyed this article and want more great content from across the industry then sign up for the Circuit Magazine >

[Stratfor] Situation Report

The founder of Group-IB, one of Russia's most prominent cybersecurity firms, was arrested in Moscow on charges of treason for working with unspecified foreign intelligence services to hurt Russia's national interests

The case fits into a trend of major state and private IT security figures being accused of treason amid constant contact with foreigners, reinforcing the Kremlin’s perception of Russian IT companies as bastions of independent thinking that need to be kept under tight surveillance and control.

Afghanistan: Taliban to Temporarily Adopt and Adapt Former Monarchical Constitution

The monarchical constitution is symbolically important because it dates back to an independent and sovereign Afghanistan. Through its use, the Taliban are signaling an independent approach to governance without influence from Western systems.

Special Offer for On the Circuit Readers

Be the smartest person in the room with this exclusive offer from Stratfor.

From the Community...

On Tuesday the BBA and Circuit communities came together, in person, for an informal get-together on the back of the ISE event at London Olympia. It was great to see so many familiar faces after such a long time!

"Based on the visuals I just viewed, that pilot is not flying my P unless the P insists and feels comfortable allowing him or her to fly."

"Even if the P allows it am definitely making a report about this misbehaviour so the situation is investigated and hopefully it acts as a deterrent for such misbehaviour in the future."

Ask questions, get advice, and find industry resources from an active and thriving community of professional, working operators:

🇺🇸 NABA Protector >

🇬🇧 BBA Connect >

On the Circuit Merch

To any industry insider, being 'On the Circuit' means being operationally active in the world of international protection. To anyone else, it's just three words. Those who know, know!

Upcoming Events

October 6th, 2021 - 09:00 BST - Virtual Event

This year's focus is on access management and the return to a hybrid working environment. Brining together industry leaders from across the UK and Europe.

Knowledge-Up

What is a Botnet Attack?

A botnet attack is a large-scale cyber attack carried out by malware-infected devices which are controlled remotely. It turns compromised devices into ‘zombie bots’ for a botnet controller.

Most Common Types of Botnet Attacks?

  • Brute Force Attack

  • Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) Attacks

  • Spam and Phishing

  • Device Bricking

Botnets are such a major threat because they deploy in large numbers. However, the total number of bots within a botnet does not determine the amount of damage it can inflict.

How to Defend Against a Botnet Attack

  • You should adopt cybersecurity hygiene best practices and provide cybersecurity awareness training for employees at all levels.

  • Add new devices to the network only once you’re sure their security settings meet minimal standards.

  • Ensure device software is up-to-date, in particular, lesser-used devices. Apply those updates as soon as the developer releases them.

  • Regularly change default device login credentials. Remove older, unused devices from the network.

  • Enable multi-factor authentication on devices and limit the number of users with access to them.

Until next week...

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