Here we've been discussing mostly about radios, systems and other electronic forms of Communications. But ComSec is a very broad term that is not limited to just over the airways.
What types of things do we guard? How do we transfer the information without litigating to the risk of sending such information.
Let's start with things we should be guarding. Personal contact information; names, mailing address, physical locations, email and telephone numbers should all be held as sensitive information and any release of information should be carefully considered.
Government issued licenced callsigns normally are available to be searched and display enough information to quite literally show up on the licencees door step.
Any and all SOI documents; authentication tables, frequencies/channels, MAPS, callsigns of any type etcetera.
The easiest way to, and the most secure way, to exchange sensitive information is via trusted carrier, a messenger for an in person exchange.
Second way is end to end encrypted email or messenger through an email independent from your personal email address.
I am using the app flowcrypt for my email and because I have some notion that maybe some of you may want to contact me, my public email is swismag@gmail.com if you want to discuss things behind the scenes.
For now that's all I have for now. Stay vigilant.
One of the things to consider beyond the type of information you're protecting but also who are you trying to protect it from? Scanner operations are pretty much the largest set of ears in the general population. Followed by those who listen to shortwave or other lower frequencies. Beyond this, other unknowns using the same type of Communications that you have decided to go with.
Luckily you already know how to prevent giving away operation Intel on the airwaves!
Yeah, good thing, huh?
@Winfield Johnson I was trying to spark conversation (shrug) I believe Bear is right that it's a little too late in the game to figure out what channel or frequencies we're going to use when we're in the middle of desperation.
I've thought a lot about crypto often over the years, and in peacetime hams and crypto are strictly forbidden for good reason. However there may come a time when exigent circumstances requires a very secure form of communication
@TyMoore Anytone had a handheld around 2015 model number TERMN-8R (Terminator) that advertised frequency hopping capabilities..
The main trouble with frequency hopping (I.e, spread spectrum) is that all by itself it offers no security from a governmental type organization. Modern Software Defined Radios have the ability to receive signals in bands in excess of 100 MHz wide allowing the possibility of recording signals and then piecing the original back together in time. This is why robust encryption will be necessary as well.
I'll be honest, I don't know much about the systems not available to "Government". Even digital voice is becoming more prevalent and scanner prices are coming down. Though not a encrypted system, it can be difficult for others with only basic comm.
The various digital modes not reliant upon the established computer networks. Or even telephone or cable infrastructures.
@Patriotic Trucker I wasn't aware the Government had any "systems" not available to them.....?.......Our local HAM club has a few of the more advanced guys playing with digi packet systems. Not really sure about digi voice. Then there's APRL......
@Winfield Johnson there's generally an issue with man hours and interests. There's a lot unknowns and for the most part, open discussion of the unknown is frowned upon.
Could you expand on that comment please? Who has issues with Man Hours? I'm confused now.
Without going through the what ifs essentially who/whatever you're comfortable with declaring as the enemy. Whether that's local law enforcement, or other preppers or desperate groups of people from the urban centers looking for supplies from those in the country side.
Will those groups have the interest or the man power while the nation is in social disarray and economic collapse? Of course that's just one worse case scenario. Like I said there's a lot of unknowns. I live in a pretty small community, my immediate concern is local law enforcement (depending on their stance) second is county sheriff's, least concern is that of an F-16 from Wisconsin Air National Guard dropping in on me because I have a few AR-15s and I doubt the air force would be interested in monitoring my GMRS/FRS traffic.
I see now. I guess I lost track of the direction this discussion was going. D'oh!
Not really. It's just a very easy thing to slip into a rabbit hole and get lost in the what ifs. When it comes to who the enemy is, if it's going to be the Government, forget about secure comms, the plan would be to deceive the listeners. If it's the masses, then a few options are available, from digital modes like packet to operating where others aren't. Example: how many people have the FRS "hunting" walkie talkies? How many are using MURS? What frequencies are your local ham repeaters using? Are most 2m or 440? I bet if there's not a lot of 220 Activity it's because there's not many operating on 220 in a given area. What about 6m?
If the enemy are fellow prepping groups that spent all their time building up ammo dumps but figured out too late that gunpowder doesn't taste very good, then it's going to be kind of ugly.
But again deciding who is the enemy and open discussion of this subject seems to be frowned upon.
@Winfield Johnson aprs would be a great asset to track your team's position but remember the beacons are being transmitted in the clear and while the national network on 144.390 may be convenient operating on an alternative frequency would again limit you to only seeing those beacons that are within range of you. Unless you are putting up your own network of digipeaters to cover a larger land area.
I'm not going to get into aprs until I've got my "regular" HAM gear sorted out. I've got my wife to the point of taking her tech. test this evening, and got her a Baofeng HT for her own, but my 2meter gear is cheap chinese crap. I've been advised to not worry 'bout upgrading my HF rig 'till the bands sort themselves out so I'm gonna try to upgrade the 2 meter a little bit, and start working on my son(who still lives with me) to get his ticket. Luckily the local radio community has a couple Elmers that are really working on getting folks set up. I may not be able to afford new equipment, but there's some good used stuff out there. The 440 stuff is still kind of rare in this area, but we've got 2 repeaters on good mountain tops now so maybe we'll get some activity.
Yeah HF is finiky right now with little to no solar activity to ionise the ever important d-f layers of the atmosphere (ionisphere). Most reports in my area are on 80/75m (3mhz) and even the badger weather net has had to utilize the we9com linked repeaters because of the poor band conditions. I'm working on upgrading to General in the very near future. I've been licensed since 1992 but spent some time with satellite and 6m USB work before life got in the way.