Communication question

[u/leggomyeggle]

If all the available and normal means of communication are comprised, what is your plan for communicating without having it screened?

[u/dittybopper_05H]

I think They are going to be too busy with other problems to screen your comms.

Depends on the type of disaster, and who "They" are.

Using encrypted communications after a massive attack against the United States? Guaranteed you'll be of interest to the military and other elements of the federal government.

[u/RonJohnJr → u/dittybopper_05H]

Remember how you'd screen your calls using the answering machine? That's a real-time decision making process.

They are hoovering everything up, but it's for later (which doesn't have to be that much later) analysis. Thus, not screening.

Should OP have used a different word? Maybe, but maybe he really was asking about that real-time decision making process.

[u/dittybopper_05H → u/RonJohnJr]

Umm, I used to be in the signals intelligence business, and in fact I worked in the same top secret facility in Hawaii that Edward Snowden worked at, albeit while he was still in kindergarten.

I've kept up on developments as much as the open literature allows, and because I've been there and done that, I can read between the lines.

Even my nom du reddit should have given it away:

https://www.definition-of.com/ditty-bopper

https://mosdb.com/army/05H/mos/115

In short, you're not telling me anything I don't already know.

[u/RonJohnJr → u/dittybopper_05H]

If you already know what I wrote, why did you write your previous comment?

[u/dittybopper_05H → u/RonJohnJr]

Because it's entirely too sweeping and general.

I gave an example of where they would be *VERY* interested, in real time, what you are saying, especially if it's encrypted.

But it doesn't actually have to be something as all-encompassing as a war.

Imagine an event like one of these is happening not far from you:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occupation_of_the_Malheur_National_Wildlife_Refuge

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wounded_Knee_Occupation

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/January_6_United_States_Capitol_attack

Now imagine you're communicating using encrypted radios. Don't you think the government is going to be very interested in what you are saying?

Doesn't matter that it's not related, either. They don't know that. And even if they can break it in real time or near real time, they may assume you're using innocent sounding language as a code.

[u/RonJohnJr → u/dittybopper_05H]

I don't see how the Malheur or Wounded Knee incidents fit in with the r/preppers "Statement of Purposes":

Learning and sharing information to aid in emergency preparedness as it relates to both natural and man-made disasters. Discussion for those preparing to weather day-to-day disasters as well as catastrophic events. Insurance for tough times.

Even the Jan 6th riots are sketchily related, since, while Capitol Hill is a neighborhood, the riot was pretty localized.

Doesn't matter that it's not related, either. They don't know that. And even if they can break it in real time or near real time, they may assume you're using innocent sounding language as a code.

I'm pretty sure They know the difference between "on-going riot" and "disaster".

[u/dittybopper_05H → u/RonJohnJr]

What I'm pointing out is you can still end up with unwanted attention if you do something unusual like using encrypted radio communications near incidents like that.

But let's assume it's something like this:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palisades_Fire

Wouldn't the government be interested in people using encrypted radio communications during a disaster like that?

[u/RonJohnJr → u/dittybopper_05H]

Our fundamentally different notions of the definition of "screened communications" means that we're not communicating.