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Be aware of dangers abroad

By WGCDR Patrick Holland

In a world where national power and security are increasingly measured in economic as well as military terms, our Defence personnel—and Defence industry personnel—are at greater risk of becoming a target for foreign intelligence-collection activities.

Many foreign governments and foreign businesses place a high priority on acquiring protected information from government or private industry.

The threat you face as an official traveller is real.

The type of information sought by foreign collectors runs the full gamut of Australian political, economic, industrial and military interests. You can reduce the possibility of becoming a target for foreign intelligence collection by taking prudent risk-reduction steps.

While most intelligence activities are typically conducted in an unobtrusive and non-threatening fashion, foreign intelligence collection can involve more aggressive tactics, including room searches and outright theft. Collection techniques can also include:

• Eavesdropping. This technique entails the use of concealed sophisticated audio and visual devices to 'bug' conversations.
• Intrusion operations. Such operations involve physical entry into a room to steal or make copies of documents, or magnetic and audio media. Although most intrusion operations are surreptitious, travellers have reported returning to their rooms to find individuals searching their belongings or conducting unnecessary maintenance activities. Reported incidents include laptop computers showing signs of unauthorised usage, packages opened, locks on briefcases and suitcases missing or showing signs of forced entry, and the actual theft of items. Intrusion operations are known to have been conducted by the host government, a foreign intelligence service of another country or foreign business operatives.
• Electronic interception. This type of interception is increasingly being conducted against modern telecommunications systems and personal electronic devices, such as personal digital assistants (PDA). Office, hotel and mobile phones are key targets. Facsimile, telex and email can also be electronically monitored. Foreign telecommunications carriers are particularly vulnerable because most are government-controlled.

Some security tips

Commonsense, basic security measures and threat awareness can effectively protect you against foreign intelligence attempts to collect classified, sensitive and proprietary information.

Prior to departure, you should take steps to inform yourself about the foreign locations you will be visiting. Your unit or facility security officer is best placed to assist you.

On arrival, you should be careful to:

• provide hotel staff with only that information necessary to conduct your stay;
• use removable information storage mediums (for example, removable floppy disks, CD-ROMs and hard drives) and carry such items separate from your computer or PDA;
• avoid discussing classified or sensitive information in hotel rooms or public venues;
• avoid the use of foreign computers, facsimile or telephones to transmit or discuss classified or sensitive information, including those in airport lounges; and
• ensure that you do not leave classified documents or equipment unattended in hotel rooms or room safes—including the safe-deposit system available in many hotels.

If in doubt, you should seek advice from the appropriate local security representative of the Australian Government or your company. Australian embassy and high commission staff can assist in security matters.

Reporting incidents

The first line of defence against foreign intelligence collection operations is in your hands: report suspicious incidents. The Defence Security Manual mandates the reporting of such incidents. Remember, the Defence Security Authority (DSA) is tasked to receive, analyse, advise and act on reports of suspicious incidents. Your reports will be used to identify the 'who, what, why, when and where' of foreign intelligence collection.

If you have any questions, please contact your unit or facility security officer, your relevant Service Security Authority or the DSA office.

WGCDR Patrick Holland works in the Defence Security Authority

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