There are two types of body armor – soft body armor, which is used in regular bullet and stab proof vests, and hard armor, which is rigid, reinforced body armor, and is used in high risk situations by police tactical units and combat soldiers.

A piece of body armor will traditionally be made up of two sections – the outer carrier, and the soft armor inner protective panels. It is important to remember that a carrier without any type of protective panels contained within it will not provide any protection against ballistic, stab or spike attacks.

The outer carrier can be made from a range of materials, and can be available in a range of colors, depending on the users requirements. The soft armor protective panels that are placed within the carrier will provide the protection offered by the body armor, and are normally light weight and flexible. These protective panels are available in a range of levels, and can be designed to defeat a variety of threats.

When a higher level of protection is required then hard armor can also be used in addition to the normal soft armor panels. Hard armor is available in a range of sizes, and can be worn in front of soft armor in specially made pockets on the outer carrier, or in separate hard armor carriers.

A Brief History Of Body Armor

There have been many different forms of body armor in use throughout history. The ancient Greeks used body armor to protect their soldiers, as did the Roman Legions, with examples of their body armor being found that date back to as early as 1400 BC. Around the year 500 BC chain-mail body armor was invented, which provided the wearer with a higher level of protection against attack than previous types of body armor. Made from thousands of iron rings that were linked together, it created a flexible, mesh like barrier that provided a high level of protection against weapons such as spears and swords. It was highly effective against the weapons of the era, but over time chain-mail was improved by adding metal armor plates to provide a higher level of protection for vulnerable parts of the body. Gradually these pieces of plate armor became bigger and more effective, and eventually replaced chain-mail as the main type of body armor that was used by armies around the world.

The introduction of firearms led to developments in the production of body armor, as plate armor was ineffective against high velocity projectiles. This led to the development of heavy duty types of plate armor, which provided a higher level of protection for the wearer, but was also heavier and more restrictive than earlier types of body armor The use of plate armor declined during the 18^th century, as the development in firearms again meant that only the most expensive and heavy types of body armor could provide reliable protection against them. However during the early 20^th century some types of plate armor became popular again with many countries, especially as it proved effective at stopping pieces of shrapnel that often proved deadly on the battlefield. Several countries used different forms of plate armor in both World War I and II, and traditional types of plate armor were worn by U.S. Foot soldiers as late as the Korean and Vietnamese wars.

The biggest development for body armor was in the late 1960′s, when DuPont™ began development of their para-aramid fiber Kevlar®. Lightweight and incredibly strong, Kevlar® allowed manufacturers to develop personal types of body armor that could be worn comfortably for long periods of time, and that also provided protection that could not be matched by any previous forms of body armor Over time other companies also developed their own types of body armor using a variety of revolutionary materials, meaning that body armor become both widely available and also affordable for the first time in history.

Body armor was traditionally used to protect soldiers and military personnel, however the last 25 years has seen an increase in the use of body armor to provide protection for police officers, security guards, door supervisors, ship crew and many others. The increase in gun and knife crime around the world means the use of body armor is now essential in many industries, and rapid developments in body armor means it can now provide a high level of protection against a broad range of day to day threats.

The introduction of lightweight personal body armor means that it’s now commonplace in many industries that previously would not have used body armor For example the increase in sea piracy has led to many shipping companies purchasing pieces of body armor for their crew members, in an effort to provide them with protection against the increased threats that they now face.

Body Armor Designs

Bullet and stab proof vests are generally made to be either covert or overt. A covert bullet proof vest is designed to be worn under clothes, and will often come in light colors They are normally thinner than overt types of bullet proof vests, as they are designed to be invisible when worn under clothes. Overt designs of bullet proof vests are made to be worn over clothes, and are normally produced in dark colors Generally they are made from rugged, hard wearing materials, and will often feature pockets and straps that can be used by the wearer.

It should also be noted that some bullet proof vests can be worn under or over clothes, these are known as covert / overt vests.

The vest carriers of bullet proof vests are designed in a wide range of styles, and are often customized for different uses. For example ambulance staff will have body armor in high visibility covers, and military personnel will have additional neck, groin and arm protection attached to their bullet proof vests. The broad range of covers and accessories available means bullet proof vests can be designed to almost any specification required.

Protection Levels

The protection standards used for body armor will vary from country to country, with many having their own specific tests and standards. However the tests performed by the American NIJ (National Institute of Justice) and the UK HOSDB (Home Office Scientific Development Branch) are considered to be the model standards for body armor around the world, and most countries will recognize the protection levels offered by a piece of body armor that is certified by either of these agencies.

The NIJ are considered to be the industry leaders in ballistic testing methods for body armor, and the HOSDB’s stab and spike tests are thought to be the worlds best. The NIJ and the HOSDB work in conjunction with each other on their testing methods, and a piece of body armor that passes NIJ standards will also pass the equivalent HOSDB standard.

Body armor is designed to protect against 3 broad types of threats – bullet, stab and spike. The protection offered by a piece of body armor will depend on how it is designed. For example some pieces of body armor will provide protection from just ballistic threats, while others will provide protection against bullet and stab attacks, or even bullet, stab and spike based threats.

Each piece of body armor will be clearly labeled with the protection that it provides. The higher the number on the protection, the higher the level of protection it will offer. For example a bullet proof vest that has NIJ Level IIIa protection will provide a higher level of protection than a bullet proof vest with NIJ Level II protection . Please see our protection levels section for more details.

Body Armor Sizing

Body armor comes in a full range of sizes, from small to 5XL. The larger the size, the wider the protective panels of the bullet proof vest will be. Body armor is also designed in different lengths – short, regular and long. A normal piece of body armor is designed to protect only the wearers vital organs, and should reach to the navel area. We recommend that anyone under 5’5 orders a short vest, between 5’6 and 5’11 a regular length vest, and over 6′ a long vest.

Body armor is made in the same way as normal clothing when it comes to sizing. For example a 5’10 man with a 38-40 inch chest and 32-34 inch waist will wear a medium t-shirt, and also a medium, regular length bullet proof vest.

How Does Body Armor Work?

Bullet proof vests

Bullet proof vests are designed to stop a bullet from penetrating them and causing harm to the wearer. They are made up a many layers of incredibly strong fibers, which when hit act as a net that essentially catches the bullet, and prevents it from traveling any further. Each layer twists as the bullet passes through, creating a stronger barrier and slowing the bullet until it comes to a complete stop. This process deforms the bullet, flattening it into a dish shape, and the force of the impact is spread over a large portion of the bullet proof vest.

Obviously the impact of a bullet is massive, and while the bullet proof vest will stop the penetration of the bullet, both the bullet proof vest and the wearer will still absorb the bullets energy. The impact of the bullet may be enough to cause what is known as “blunt force trauma” to the wearer at the impact point. As a bullet proof vest is not solid the bullet will not instantly be stopped by it, it will travel through the vest but not actually penetrate it completely. This means the wearer will still feel the impact of the bullet on their body, and while the blunt force trauma of the bullet will undoubtedly be painful, it should also not be life threatening

Bullet proof vests come in several levels of protection, and are designed to resist most common law and medium energy handgun rounds. If the wearer requires protection against rifle rounds then rigid, hard armor can also be used in conjunction with their bullet proof vest. Hard armor is generally made from ceramics, metal or a combination of both, and are worn in front of the panels on the bullet proof vest. However these plates tend to be heavy and bulky, and so they are generally used only when required in high risk situations.

It is very important to remember that a bullet proof vest is only bullet proof when it contains ballistic panels. A bullet proof vest without ballistic panels is simply a vest, the outer vest cover does not provide any ballistic protection on its own.

The ballistic panels themselves are made in different ways, depending on the individual manufacturer. Some may use a single type of material such as DuPont™ Kevlar®, whilst others may use multiple materials in their construction. The more protection a bullet proof vest offers, the more it will weigh. This is because it will contain more layers of protective material, and some manufacturers will add layers of non-ballistic materials in order to provide additional blunt trauma protection. Because of the different methods of construction used by different manufacturers it is impossible to compare individual ballistic plates, however it is important to note that whilst they may be constructed differently, they all need to pass the same safety checks before they can be sold.

Stab and spike proof vests

A traditional bullet proof vest will provide little to no resistance to an attack from a knife or stabbing instrument, as the fibers that are designed to “catch” the bullet can not disperse the energy of a concentrated stab or spike attack.

Stab and spike proof vests are constructed differently to bullet proof vests, in order to offer resistance to these types of attack. A knife tip will penetrate fabric, which then allows the rest of the cutting surface to rip through the material. A pointed weapon, such as a needle or syringe, will not actually damage the material, rather the point will push through the weave of the fabric and allow the rest of it to follow.

Stab and spike proof vests are made up of materials with a very tight laminated weave, as this prevents threats from piercing the fabric and causing damage. Stab and spike proof vests can be made from tightly woven, heavy duty nylon, however recent trends have led to an increase in multi-threat Kevlar® vests, which offer protection from bullet and stab threats, whilst others offer bullet, stab and spike protection.

It is important to note that not every stab resistant vest will also offer spike protection. If you are going to face spike based threats please ensure you select a vest with additional spike protection.

Body Armor User Guide

What your body armor is NOT

Please be aware that body armor is NOT designed to provide 100% protection against every conceivable threat. Your body armor will provide protection up to its stated levels, so always ensure that you have the correct level of protection for the threats you could face.

Body Armor Maintenance

Cleaning

Body armor should be cleaned straight after wearing using a weak liquid detergent and warm water. Sponge the vest cover, do not immerse the vest in water as this could damage the panels. Do not dry in direct sunlight.

Storage

Body armor should be stored flat when not in use . This will stop creases and wrinkles forming in the ballistic materials.

Washing

Do not wash the Kevlar® inserts, as this could cause damage to the ballistic fibers If required they can be lightly sponged with warm, soapy water. The covers are made from various materials and the washing instructions should be followed.

Damage

Body armor should be visually inspected for damage or excessive wear every time it is worn. Never wear body armor that is damaged in anyway.

Inserting Protective Panels

Bullet, stab and spike proof vests are designed to be worn in a specific direction. It is important that you ensure the ballistic panels within your vest carrier are facing the correct direction at all times. When a bullet strikes a bullet proof vest its impact is absorbed by the many layers of fabric within 3 nanoseconds, caught, and prevented from passing through the vest itself. However this method of stopping a bullet is directional, which means that it works only when the panels are facing in the correct direction. If the panel is facing the wrong way then the web of fibers becomes practically useless, and leaves the wearer open to serious threat.

The same applies to stab and spike proof vests. If the protective panel is facing the wrong way it becomes easier for pointed objects to pass through, as they are not designed to protect against threats from that direction.

All protective panels are clearly marked with the direction they are intended to be worn, and it is important that the wearer ensures they are aware of this at all times. If you remove your vests panels in order to wash the outer carrier then always pay attention when putting the vest back together, and ensure that when the panels are reinserted they are facing the correct direction.

Adjustment

Most bullet proof vests are adjustable at the waist in order to provide the wearer with a well fitted, comfortable vest. Armour should not be worn too tightly as this may increase body heat and restrict movement.

Effects of water and sweat on body armor

The armor we sell is made from aramid fibers and these will lose some of their protective properties if they are totally immersed in water for a long period of time, however this will only be temporary until the armor has dried out. Our body armor will not be affected by rain or sweat.

This article was provided courtesy of SafeGuard ARMOR™. SafeGuard ARMOR™ has been operating for 25 years, selling our body armor to thousands of individuals and companies across the world. Started in 1986, we have grown from a small operation selling bullet proof vests to local companies, to the worldwide leader in body armor. We now manufacture our body armor in the U.S. and Europe, and have multiple distribution points around the world.

SafeGuard ARMOR™ LLC
1925 Timberline Road N19
Fort Collins, CO 80525
(970) 626-6038
info@safeguardarmor.com
http://safeguardarmor.com

A high definition video has now been made available on YouTube, highlighting the CEO of PPSS Body Armour being shot from approx 9 feet or 3 meters.

The shot was fired from a Glock 19 handgun, using 9x19mm FMJ 124gr ammunition.

Robert Kaiser is one of the very first men in this industry who has decided to ‘put his money where his mouth is’.

“I have seen many body armour companies making astonishing claims, so I decided to offer real physical evidence using live ammunition” he says.

Robert explained in great depth and personally ensured this video was not produced to create any type of tough guy image, and it should also not be seen a disregard to human life.

Having viewed the video, it is fair to say that all reasonable and necessary precautions have been taken prior to the production.  One of the country’s leading trauma nurse was present, paramedics were on stand by and an IV was prepared in order to infuse essential drugs in case something did go wrong.

PPSS Body Armour have now launched this ultra light and extremely thin NIJ Level IIIA+ bullet proof vest in order to offer executive and diplomatic security professionals the best possible concealable protection.

With a weight of only 1.65kg, a thickness of just 6.5mm and protective area of 0.28sqm, this new outstanding bullet proof vest certainly means business.

Made out of a high performance ballistic material, this new bullet proof vest also offers additional protection from Tokarev Ball 7.62 x 25mm and Makarov 9 x 18mm.

Waterproof and breathable Cordura® 180 and groundbreaking temperature controlling Outlast® space technology make this great body armour an ideal choice especially in hot and humid conditions.

A specially developed 0.85mm trauma liner provides extremely effective blunt trauma protection.

Please contact PPSS Group directly on +44 (0) 845 5193 953 email info@ppss-group.com or visit www.ppss-group.com

PPSS Group is a UK based company, specialised in the design, development and manufacturing of high performance bite and cut resistant clothing and body armour. PPSS Group is also the company behind Cut-Tex® PRO, a groundbreaking and one of the world’s strongest cut, tear and abrasion resistant fabrics, now being used to manufacture cut and bite resistant clothing for police, military, emergency services, prisons, mental health care and private security firms all over the world.

Robert Kaiser, CEO of PPSS Group is a globally respected expert in body armour and known for his passion for personal protection and personal safety.  He is frequently invited to speak in front of large audiences about the latest body armour developments within homeland security and domestic frontline services.  He is acting as a body armour consultant for a number of organisations, associations, unions and government departments. 

Anti-terrorism:

Anti-terrorism Awareness: Fundamental knowledge of the terrorist threat and measures to reduce personal vulnerability to terrorism. See also anti-terrorism.

Asset: Any potential target of terrorist attack, most commonly people, equipment, a building, or an outdoor venue (in whole or in part).

Blast Curtains: Heavy curtains made of blast resistant materials that could protect the occupants of a room from flying debris.

Blast Vulnerability Envelope: The resources around an explosive device that will be damaged by the blast.

Clear Zone: An area that is clear of visual obstructions and landscape materials that could conceal a threat or perpetrator.

Controls: The countermeasures for vulnerabilities. There are three types: Preventative Controls reduce the likelihood of a deliberate attack, protect vulnerabilities, and make an attack unsuccessful or reduce its impact; Corrective Controls reduce the impact of an attack and restore the plant to normal operation; and Detective Controls discover attacks and activate preventative or corrective controls.

Counter-intelligence: Information gathered and activities conducted to protect against espionage, other intelligence activities, sabotage, or assassinations conducted for or on behalf of foreign powers, organizations, or persons; or international terrorist activities, excluding personnel, physical, document, and communications security programs.

Counter-terrorism (CT): Offensive measures taken to prevent, deter, and respond to terrorism.

Crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED): A multi-disciplinary approach to deterring criminal behavior through environmental, building, architectural, landscape and urban design. CPTED strategies rely upon the ability to influence offender decisions that precede criminal acts.

Deceit: Adversary actions directed at overcoming elements of the physical protection system by normal submission to an element with the expectation that unauthorized conditions, such as a fake badge or shielded material, will not be detected.

Domestic Terrorism: Terrorism perpetrated by the citizens of one country against fellow countrymen. That includes acts against citizens of a second country when they are in the host country, and not the principal or intended target.

Ductile Materials: Materials that are malleable and will absorb impact loads without breaking.

Electronic Security Systems (ESS): That part of physical security concerned with the safeguarding of personnel and property by use of electronic systems. These systems include, but are not limited to, intrusion detection systems (IDS), automated entry control systems (AECS), and video assessment systems.

Exclusive Zone: An area around an asset which has controlled entry with highly restrictive access.

Force: Adversary actions directed at overcoming elements of the physical protection system by overt aggressive activities, which the adversary expects to be detected and thus is prepared to forcefully defend against the response.

Force Protection: Security program designed to protect military personnel, civilian employees, family members, facilities, and equipment, in all locations and situations, accomplished through planned and integrated application of combating terrorism, physical security, operations security, personal protective services, and supported by intelligence, counterintelligence, and other security programs.

High-Risk Target: Any asset or facility that, because of mission sensitivity, ease of access, isolation, and symbolic value, may be an especially attractive or accessible terrorist target.

Internal Damping: Anything that absorbs some or all of the impact from a blast.

Military Facility: A facility subject to the custody, jurisdiction, or administration of any Department of Defense (DoD) Component. This term includes, but is not limited to, military reservations, installations, bases, posts, camps, stations, arsenals, or laboratories where a DoD Component has operational responsibility and has responsibility for facility security and defense.

Non-Exclusive Zone: An area around an asset that has controlled entry but less restrictive access than a exclusive zone.

Nuclear, Biological, or Chemical Weapons (NBC): Also called Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD). Weapons that are characterized by their capability to produce mass casualties.

Physical Security: The part of security concerned with measures/concepts designed to safeguard personnel; to prevent unauthorized access to equipment, installations, material, and documents; and to safeguard them against espionage, sabotage, damage, and theft.

Sacrificial Roof or Wall: Walls or roofs that can be lost in a blast without damage to the primary asset.

Safe Haven: Secure areas within the interior of the facility. A Safe Haven should be designed such that it requires more time to penetrate by a terrorist attack than it takes for the response force to reach the protected area to rescue the occupants.

Stand-off Distance: The distance between an asset and a threat.

Stand-off Weapons: Weapons that are launched from a distance at a target (anti-tank weapons, mortars, etc.).

Stealth: Adversary actions directed at overcoming elements of the physical protection system by avoiding or deactivating these elements in an attempt to prevent detection.

Terrorism: 1.The calculated use of violence to inculcate fear; intended to coerce or to intimidate governments or societies in the pursuit of goals that are generally political, religious, or ideological. 2. The unlawful use or threatened use of force or violence against individuals or property to coerce or intimidate governments or societies, often to achieve political, religious, or ideological objectives.

Threats: Things that can go wrong or that can ‘attack’ the processing system. Threats are always present.

Threat Analysis: In anti-terrorism, threat analysis is a continual process of compiling and examining all available information concerning potential terrorist activities by terrorist groups that could target a facility. A threat analysis will review the factors of a terrorist group’s existence, capability, intentions, history, and targeting, as well as the security environment within which friendly forces operate. Threat analysis is an essential step in identifying probability of terrorist attack and results in a threat assessment. See also anti-terrorism.

Vital equipment: Equipment, systems, or components whose failure or destruction would cause unacceptable interruption to a national security program or an unacceptable impact on the health and safety of the public. Operations offices are responsible for identifying the vital equipment located at facilities under their purview.

Vulnerability: 1. The susceptibility of a nation or military force to any action by any means through which its war potential or combat effectiveness may be reduced or its will to fight diminished. 2. The characteristics of a system which cause it to suffer a definite degradation (incapability to perform the designated mission) as a result of having been subjected to a certain level of effects in an unnatural (man-made) hostile environment.

Public Affairs Guidance
April 20, 2011

BACKGROUND

For federal, state, local, tribal, territorial and private sector communicators:

• On April 20, 2011 Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano will announce the implementation of the National Terrorism Advisory System or NTAS.  This DHS Public Affairs Guidance (PAG) provides NTAS topline messages, background, and process information to assist public information officers with the transition from HSAS to NTAS.
• Under this new system, DHS will coordinate with other federal entities to  issue formal, detailed alerts to the public when the federal government receives information about credible terrorist threats.
• These alerts will include a clear statement that there is an “imminent threat” or “elevated threat.” The alerts also will provide a summary of the potential threat, information about actions being taken to ensure public safety, and recommended steps that individuals and communities, businesses and governments can take.
• NTAS Alerts will be distributed through news media, web, mobile and social media channels to the public.
• Communicators may recall that we provided initial public affairs guidance when DHS Secretary Napolitano announced NTAS on January 27, 2011.  The January PAG amplified  remarks  from  Secretary  Napolitano  about  the  NTAS  announcement, detailed a 90 day transition phase from the existing color-coded Homeland Security Advisory System (HSAS) to NTAS, and broadly outlined communicator-specific issues.

NTAS COMMUNICATIONS & COORDINATION QUESTIONS

NTAS Media Questions. You may refer media questions about NTAS to the Department of Homeland Security Office of Public Affairs at (202) 282-8010 or mediainquiry@dhs.gov

Communicator NTAS Process Questions. If you have questions about NTAS communicator processes please contact Jeff Karonis, Director of Incident Communications, DHS Public Affairs (jeff.karonis@dhs.gov).

New Media NTAS Questions. If you have questions about NTAS New Media or web-specific issues in the transition from HSAS to NTAS please contact Chris Stelmarski, DHS Public Affairs (chris.stelmarski@dhs.gov).

NTAS PAG REFERENCE MATERIALS

• Topline NTAS Messages, NTAS Background, and Details on NTAS Alerts
• Public Area NTAS Transition Signage
• New Media and Web master NTAS information
• DHS Press Release on NTAS (separate from PAG)
• National Terrorism Advisory System Public Guide

Topline NTAS Messages

• On January 27, 2011, Secretary Napolitano unveiled the National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS), which will replace the color-coded Homeland Security Advisory System (HSAS) on April 26, 2011.
• Over the 90-day implementation period the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has  been  working  closely  with our  federal,  state,  local,  tribal  and  private sector partners to implement a system that meets the needs of the public and our partners.
• NTAS is built on a clear and simple premise: When a threat develops that could impact you – the public – we will tell you. We will provide whatever information we can so you know how to protect yourselves, your families, and your communities.
• Security is a shared responsibility and DHS recognizes that the best security strategy is one that gets Americans involved and counts on the public as a key partner in securing our country.
• Under NTAS, DHS will coordinate with other federal entities to issue formal, detailed alerts when the federal government receives information about a specific or credible terrorist threat.
• Alerts will be broadly issued via official channels, media channels and directly to the public.  They may also be sent directly to law enforcement or affected areas of the private sector.
• Alerts will provide a concise summary of the potential threat—clearly indicating whether a threat is “elevated” or “imminent”—and providing information about actions  being  taken  to  ensure  public  safety,  as  well  as  recommended  steps  that individuals, communities, businesses and governments can take to protect themselves to help prevent, mitigate or respond to the threat.
• Given the persistent and evolving nature of our current threat environment, it is important to remember that credible threats – the kind that will result in an NTAS Alert – by their very nature will not develop at regular, predictable or frequent intervals.

NTAS Background

• From Day One, this Administration has operated on the premise that security is a shared responsibility and we all play a role in keeping America safe.
• In July 2009, Secretary Napolitano formed a bipartisan task force of security experts, state and local elected, law enforcement and emergency management officials, and other key stakeholders to assess the effectiveness of the color-coded Homeland Security Advisory System (HSAS).
• The results of this assessment formed the basis of the National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS).
• Since January, we have been working with our partners in federal government, state and local government, law enforcement, the private and non-profit sectors, airports, and other transport hubs to transition to this new system.
• NTAS will more effectively communicate information about terrorist threats by providing timely, detailed information to the public, government agencies, first responders, airports and other transportation hubs, and the private sector.
• This new system is built on a clear and simple premise: When a threat develops that could impact you – the public – we will tell you. We will provide whatever information we can so you know how to protect yourselves, your families, and your communities.
• As a nation, we are always facing persistent and evolving threats. The lack of  an NTAS Alert at any particular time certainly doesn’t mean the terrorist threat has gone away.
• However, this new system moves away from simply describing the general  threat picture to informing the public about credible threats.

Details on NTAS alerts:

• NTAS Alerts may include specific information, if available, about the nature of the threat,   including   the   geographic   region,   mode   of   transportation,   or   critical infrastructure potentially affected by the threat
• The alerts will also include, where possible and applicable, actions being taken to ensure public safety, and steps that individuals and communities can take to protect themselves and help prevent, mitigate or respond to the threat.
• The alerts will clearly indicate whether the threat is “Elevated,” warning of a credible terrorist  threat  against  the  United  States,  or  “Imminent”,  warning  of  a  credible, specific, and impending terrorist threat against the United States.
• NTAS Alerts have a “sunset provision,” meaning that individual threat alerts will be issued with a specified end date. Alerts may then be extended if new information becomes available or if the threat evolves significantly.
• Alerts will be issued more broadly to the American people through both official and media channels—including a designated DHS webpage (www.dhs.gov/alerts) and via Twitter @NTASAlerts.
• NTAS Alerts will also be tailored specifically to our partners in federal government, state and local government, law enforcement, the private and non-profit sectors, airports, and other transport hubs if the threats specifically pertain to them.

PUBLIC AREA NTAS TRANSITION SIGNAGE

• On April 20 airport authorities and other venues around the country will start posting signage announcing NTAS and replacing the color code threat images.   We expect that these materials will be posted for at least several months to assure a broad public education about the new NTAS system.
• If states desire a copy of the signage please send an email to sara.kuban@dhs.gov and we will provide an electronic copy of the poster.

NEW MEDIA AND WEBMASTER NTAS INFORMATION

This guide provides materials to assist new media practitioners and public affairs web professionals with the transition from HSAS to NTAS.

Website and Online Properties

• The Department has developed three methods for webmasters to incorporate NTAS into their website. All developer information is available at: http://www.DHS.gov/files/programs/ntas-developer-resources.shtm

1. By placing a gif graphic on their page that will automatically change to reflect whether there is an alert issued.
2. By placing an iframe embed code that contains a widget that will automatically update to reflect when there is an alert issued.
3. By using the NTAS API in the form of an XML feed that will contain all alert details for syndication on web, mobile properties and electronic signage.

• The Department encourages websites to syndicate content automatically via the API and to not duplicate alert content. This ensures that the content on your  website is always up to date with the newest information being released by the Department.

Social Media

• The Department will be alerting the public to new NTAS Alerts via the following social media avenues:

1. Official NTAS Dedicated Twitter Account – http://twitter.com/NTASAlerts
2. Official NTAS Dedicated Facebook Account – http://facebook.com/NTASAlerts

• Organizations and individuals are encouraged to rebroadcast (whether repost, retweet, etc) NTAS Alerts from official social media channels to their networks while keeping links back to DHS and official NTAS pages and properties intact.
• Additional social media channels may be added at a later time as appropriate.

Branding and Collateral

• High resolution NTAS graphics can be found at  www.dhs.gov/files/programs/ntas- web-resources.shtm

Additional Guidance and Support

For any questions relating to NTAS related New Media or Web questions contact: Chris Stelmarski, Office of Public Affairs, Department of Homeland Security, chris.stelmarski@hq.dhs.gov

New Media and Web Master NTAS Frequently Asked Questions

What will happen to the current HSAS graphic?

If you are currently embedding the HSAS graphic on your site (http://www.dhs.gov/threat_level/current_new.gif) that graphic will be replaced with an NTAS graphic at the end of the implementation period. If you are “hot linking” that file, you will not need to change anything.

What will the new NTAS badge consist of?

The new NTAS badge will contain the NTAS logo, URL (http://www.dhs.gov/alerts) and will indicate whether there is currently an active alert or not.

Where will I find NTAS Alerts when they are posted?

All NTAS Alerts will be posted on http://www.dhs.gov/alerts

What should I put on my website?

We encourage you to place our NTAS badge or create your own badge using DHS approved branding. Please visit http://www.dhs.gov/files/programs/ntas-web-resources.shtm for vector (EPS), Photoshop and JPEG versions of NTAS graphics.

Is there a way to receive an NTAS Alert feed?

An NTAS XML feed is available at http://www.dhs.gov/files/programs/ntas-developer-resources.shtm.

The U.S. Secret Service, backed up by three studies over a period of 15 years and published in the FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin (3/06), indentified the following visual cues indicating a person may be carrying a concealed weapon:

Behavioral Traits

In all three aforementioned studies, none of the criminal offenders interviewed used a holster and male offenders reported regularly carrying handguns in the middle torso area; more specifically they tended to tuck the firearm into their right front waistband, between their navel and hip, in order maintain the gun’s accessibility.  One researcher noted that, “They see guns put there in the movies, it’s ‘cool,’ and they can easily show their buddies or enemies that they’re armed.”  One city law enforcement agency conducting their own study noted that of the 1,301 guns confiscated from suspects, only seven of them were wearing holsters.  The second most common hiding place is the small of the back – but it is a distant second place.

Concealed firearms tend to be carried on the person’s “strong side,” which is to say on the same side as their dominant hand.  Is the subject left-handed or right-handed?  Typically, wristwatches are worn on the weak arm and, generally, people use their strong hand for most actions like lighting cigarettes, shoving someone, holding or moving objects, etc.  Even in the absence of confirming visual clues, you can count on approximately 85% of the people in the world being right handed.  Knowing a person’s strong side gives the observer a better chance of locating a hidden gun quickly.

Walking with a concealed, unholstered handgun requires subjects to occasionally touch their firearms to prevent the gun from moving or to adjust the weapon after it moves.  This movement is often referred to by law enforcement instructors as the “security feel” and becomes most notable whenever individuals change body positions, such as standing, sitting, or exiting a car because the unholstered gun tends to shift, causing the subject to adjust or reposition the weapon to the preferred position.  When a subject runs, their actions may appear more pronounced; constantly gripping the handgun to maintain control.

An academy instructor for the U.S. Secret Service uniformed division recently shared the following tip online, “Closely related to the security feel is what I call ‘protective body movement.’ This is particularly noticeable when an armed subject is running or moving abruptly; he holds his arm against the concealed weapon, either stiffly or with a very restrained swing. Even if the suspect is just walking, you may see that he takes a full stride with his opposite-side foot but the gun-side stride will be shorter, almost like a limp in some cases because he’s trying to clamp the gun in place and minimize its slipping or its risk of falling out. The arm may also come in against the gun as a protective movement when people start getting close to the suspect.”

“Watch females who are with bikers and other street gangs,” one police officer cautioned, “many times they carry for the male members, capitalizing on the fact that too many people tend to dismiss females as a threat.”

The studies also concluded that “the majority of female offenders who carried their own weapon preferred small-framed revolvers or automatic pistols. Their preferred place of concealment was in a pocket of their outer clothing, with quick retrieval as their primary concern. Females often carried a weapon for a male companion prior to or after criminal activity. But, interestingly, no female offender reported giving her weapon to anyone to carry for her.”

Basic law enforcement training teaches officers to keep their gun-side away from individuals during street contacts or interviews.  It is widely accepted that armed criminals do the same in encounters with law enforcement professionals to ensure concealment and easy access to their firearms.  As one offender in the study noted, “If they’re on that side of me, they can’t see it. I can also get to it quicker if I need to. Because they can’t see what I’m reaching for, I get that extra second.”

Additional physical behaviors may include “palming,” which is most often observed in subjects concealing edged weapons but occasionally seen with gun wielders, too.  The knife holder may run the blade of the weapon up along the arm or behind the leg to conceal it from frontal view. Just before a target is attacked, an attacker will also typically have his or her eyes fixed on the intended victim.  Palming behaviors often indicate imminent risk to the recovery agent!

I remember one situation in particular when I found a gun in the coat pocket of a fugitive I was chasing through a house that I distinctly heard the sound of the gun hitting a door frame and then coming to rest on a countertop when I had him leaned forward and placing him in handcuffs.  It was obvious by the heavy, solid thud that there was a large metal object in his pocket.

Clothing Indicators

The most obvious giveaway is the telltale bulges in a subject’s clothing.  A gun is not flexible and doesn’t conform well to the shape of the human body, so it may reveal itself in the form of a protrusion.  While the entire firearm may not be outlined, tight clothing may reveal bumps that relate to a hammer, grip or muzzle.  This distortion of the subject’s silhouette is often referred to as “patterning” or “imprinting.”  When trying to conceal a shotgun, rifle or submachine gun under a coat while walking, the butt of the weapon will often cause a noticeable bulge behind the armpit. Additionally, the jacket does not move naturally because it is supported by the outline of the weapon.  When someone wears a shoulder holster or straps on a sawed-off rifle, shotgun or submachine gun under his or her arm, a bulge in front of or behind the armpit will often be visible.

Specific observations regarding a person’s attire may indicate that the individual is armed.  These may include, but are not limited to, what individuals are wearing during various weather conditions, as well as accessory items and unconventional weapons designed and manufactured for concealment that they may carry. Clothing concealment techniques are used by people to hide firearms and other weapon; for example, an un-tucked shirt or buttoned sports jacket are two examples of techniques used to conceal dangerous objects with clothing.  These characteristics may not always be obvious though as casual dress with un-tucked shirts is quite common.  Even though an un-tucked shirt may hide a firearm, in and of itself, it is not a good indicator.  An investigator must judge the concealment characteristics in the context of the environment they are in. With clothing, visual screener need only simply ask, “Does what I see match the surroundings?”

Warm Weather Conditions

Is the individual dressed inappropriately for existing weather and temperature conditions?  A person who attempts to conceal a weapon may wear or carry additional clothing other than that which is required or appropriate considering the outside temperature and humidity.  This suspicious behavior is particularly observable in warm weather.  Why would an individual wear a jacket, sweatshirt, sweater, raincoat, or overcoat on a bright sunny day when others are dressed in short-sleeved shirts?  Is the individual wearing multilayered clothing, such as two shirts or a pair of sweatpants over a pair of jeans, on a hot day?  Similarly, why does a man wearing a shirt and tie, suit pants, and dress shoes have his shirttail hanging out?  Less obvious are individuals in casual attire with their shirttails outside their pants.  Such inappropriate apparel can cover areas of the body where criminals frequently conceal firearms.

Obviously, it is easier visually detect firearms on individuals dressed appropriately for warm weather.  At-risk individuals should look for unnatural protrusions or bulges in the waist, back, and crotch areas and watch for less conspicuous cues, such as shirts that appear rippled or wavy on one side of the body while the fabric on the other side appears smooth.  Many offenders in the three studies revealed that they purposely transported weapons in their crotch areas as much for concealment as the reluctance of officers to thoroughly search this location.

Cold and Inclement Weather Conditions

Are individuals with a coat, raincoat, or jacket draped over their arms unnecessarily exposing themselves to the elements?  What about those wearing a hooded jacket or coat in the rain or snow without the hood covering the head?  One offender stated that he had several friends who carried firearms in their jacket hoods. Does a loose-hanging hood seem weighted down, causing the drawstring to pucker?  Also, in periods of extremely cold weather, why would people not button or zip up their jackets or heavy coats?  Could it be that they want quick access to a firearm?

When individuals have on jackets and coats, are these pieces of clothing visibly weighted to one side, giving the appearance of an unusually heavy object in the pocket?  Normally, personal items such as wallets, keys, and cell phones do not weigh enough to cause a pocket to hang substantially lower than the one on the opposite side– but large caliber guns favored by street thugs typically do.  When the subject walks or runs, does his coat or jacket bounce off his leg as if something heavy is in the pocket?

Accessories and Other Items Carried

In cold weather conditions, individuals may have a hand warmer attached to their clothing or person in some manner.  If these people appear to have been outside for some time, why are their hands not inside the device?  If they have gloves on, why do they need the hand warmer?  Does it exhibit ripples or waves in the fabric, giving the appearance of containing a heavy object?

What about individuals carrying such items as purses, knapsacks, fanny packs, soft briefcases, gym bags, folded-over newspapers, or paper bags that appear out of place?  Do these articles display a protrusion?  Is the outline of the frame of a handgun or a partial contour, such as the barrel or butt, visible?  If a subject seems to have a wallet in his pocket but is wearing a fanny pack, then what’s in the fanny pack?  Does it appear weighted with a heavy object?  Most types of fanny packs can conceal a handgun and many are purposes-built with a draw string or other quick-release closure method added for rapid access to a handgun.

One of the most important concepts of visual weapons screening is behavior clusters; the totality of circumstances will dictate the degree of likelihood of an individual being armed. When evaluating any individual for the possibility of a concealed firearm it is important to take into account their behavior “in context” as well!  Wearing inappropriate clothing could be completely explainable, depending on the circumstances and surroundings. For example, a traveler who just arrived from a colder climate may have on an overcoat on a warm sunny day.  Perhaps, the person has to carry luggage, making it necessary to temporarily wear the coat.  This individual may be near an airport, train terminal, bus station, or subway or in the process of hailing a taxicab.  Under these circumstances, the observation of inappropriate clothing for existing weather conditions probably would not constitute a clear indicator that the person may be concealing a firearm because such behavior could be completely understandable.  Alert investigators, however, may use these indicators as a reason to take a second, closer look and notice a slight bulge or protrusion or other physical behavior trait that confirms their suspicions.

Unconventional Firearms and Disguised Weapons

Fugitive recovery agents need to remain vigilant for a separate class of firearms designed for concealment. Generally constructed without sights, these weapons, referred to as “belly guns,” usually are inaccurate unless fired at a very close range. Manufacturers also have produced handguns and other weapons intentionally disguised as other objects, including pens, pagers, cell phones, belt buckles, and wallets. Thugs have related that they possessed such weapons to use against anyone who may overlook them during arrest or transport situations. The use of a hand-held magnetometer can assist in detecting these types of handguns and other potentially dangerous metal instruments, such as knives and razors.

Click here for a disguised weapons manual circulated among law enforcement professionals.

Click here for a second guide to additional unconventional hidden and concealed weapons.

Click here for real guns disguised as toys.

Studies indicate that there is no reliable profile of the people who carry and use weapons unlawfully; they are white, Latino, Asian every other race and ethnicity. They are male or female. They wear expensive clothing, including tailored suits, and they are from all socioeconomic classes. It is paramount that all subjects under your control, including those of the opposite sex, be searched for concealed weapons using optimum frisking and location techniques. Recovery agents must remain vigilant and constantly remind themselves that a recovery of a weapon from a suspect should never prohibit the continued search of the subject for additional weapons.

Use these tell-tales as a way to make you conscious of your own actions while wearing a concealed weapon as well.  Many investigators who I know carry concealed firearms tend to share many of the same habits, behavior traits and modes of dress discussed in this article. To a knowing individual, you may unconsciously telegraph your armed status in situations where it is best that the presence of a weapon remain concealed such as in an undercover workplace investigation or while conducting field interviews under some pretext.

Knowledge, awareness, clear thinking, and finely honed skills of observation may give investigators an advantage when confronting bail fugitives or their accomplices who may display the specific and unique signals indicating the presence of a firearm or other concealed weapon.  However, the absence of such traits and characteristics should never mean that a bail agent should let his or her guard down while in the presence of the fugitive and his or her associates.  At the end of the day, we all want to go home safely.

Be careful out there.

This article was written by L. Scott Harrell and is posted courtesy IRBseach, LLC.

IRBsearch offers The Most information, The Best data sources, and The Fastest delivery for locating people, businesses, and their assets. With one click you can search billions of records in just a fraction of a second.

The Ultrasonic Dog Chaser is the most humane and safest way to deter unfriendly dogs. Using the latest ultrasonic technology, the Dog Chaser produces a discomforting, but not harmful, high frequency sound that is audible to dogs but not to humans.

This simple, hand-held device will stop the approach of unwanted dogs at up to 20 feet and is easy to use:

Just point the dog-repeller at the animal and press the button.

Most dogs will have an immediate reaction to the sound and will back away but proper and prudent caution should always be maintained in all circumstances involved with an animal who may bite, regardless if you are using this excellent device or not.

The Dog Chaser should be a part of every professional investigator’s gear.  It’s inexpensive, small and easily stows in your glove box or gear bag for ready use.

Side note: I personally used one of these to take the bark out of my neighbor’s dog too… when I finally got fed up with the constant yapping, I started pushing the button every time the dog started barking. It only took a few afternoons and the barking has dramatically improved.

Unfortunately, there have been several recent instances where process servers have been attacked and / or killed while serving court documents. While it is extremely rare, it seems to be a problem that is worsening rather than getting better. I’m not sure whether that is because there is more process being served in a gloomy economy where many people are growing increasingly frustrated or if the 24 hour news cycle and a plethora of news outlets are striving to deliver more news and we are hearing about h0micides and assaults that would have otherwise been buried 5 or 10 years ago.

The simple answer is, “Yes, service of process can be a dangerous assignment… but it does not have to be.”  In all things common sense must prevail.  Here is a recent video that discusses some common sense tips about process server safety that closely parallels the article Stephanie wrote a year and a half ago.

To recap the information in the video:

• Use common sense
• Talk to the client- is the subject known to have been violent in the past?
• Contact the police if you believe the person being served may react violently.
• Know your surroundings.
• Keep your car close and a cell phone handy.
• Go with a partner.
• Be friendly and polite.
• Never turn your back on the subject.

Remember, while most process servers will never find themselves in a life or death situation there is no job in the world that is worth your life! Let common sense be your guide and stay safe out there!

Pensacola Process Server

Address Munging:

Adware: or advertising-supported software is any software package which automatically plays, displays, or downloads advertising material to a computer after the software is installed on it or while the application is being used. Some types of adware are also spyware and can be classified as privacy-invasive software.

Backdoor: in a computer system (or cryptosystem or algorithm) is a method of bypassing normal authentication, securing remote access to a computer, obtaining access to plaintext, and so on, while attempting to remain undetected. The backdoor may take the form of an installed program (e.g., Back Orifice), or could be a modification to an existing program or hardware device.

Backscatter (also known as outscatter, misdirected bounces, blowback or collateral spam): a side-effect of e-mail spam, viruses and worms, where email servers receiving spam and other mail send bounce messages to an innocent party. This occurs because the original message’s envelope sender is forged to contain the e-mail address of the victim. A very large proportion of such e-mail is sent with a forged From: header, matching the envelope sender.  Since these messages were not solicited by the recipients, are substantially similar to each other, and are delivered in bulk quantities, they qualify as unsolicited bulk email or spam. As such, systems that generate e-mail backscatter can end up being listed on various DNSBLs and be in violation of internet service providers’ Terms of Service.

Black Hat: the villain or bad guy, especially in a western movie in which such a character would wear a black hat in contrast to the hero’s white hat. The phrase is often used figuratively, especially in computing slang, where it refers to a hacker that breaks into networks or computers, or creates computer viruses.

Bluebugging: a form of bluetooth attack. A Bluebug program allows the user to “take control” of the victim’s phone. Not only can they make calls, they can send messages, essentially do anything the phone can do. This also means that the Bluebug user can simply listen to any conversation his victim is having in real life.

Bluejacking: the sending of unsolicited messages over Bluetooth to Bluetooth-enabled devices such as mobile phones, PDAs or laptop computers,

Bluesnarfing: the unauthorized access of information from a wireless device through a Bluetooth connection, often between phones, desktops, laptops, and PDAs. This allows access to a calendar, contact list, emails and text messages, and on some phones users can steal pictures and private videos.

Botnet: a jargon term for a collection of software robots, or bots, that run autonomously and automatically. They run on groups of zombie computers controlled remotely.

Click fraud: a type of internet crime that occurs in pay per click online advertising when a person, automated script, or computer program imitates a legitimate user of a web browser clicking on an ad, for the purpose of generating a charge per click without having actual interest in the target of the ad’s link. Click fraud is the subject of some controversy and increasing litigation due to the advertising networks being a key beneficiary of the fraud.

Computer Virus: a computer program that can copy itself and infect a computer without permission or knowledge of the user. The term “virus” is also commonly used, albeit erroneously, to refer to many different types of malware and adware programs.

Computer Worm: a self-replicating computer program. It uses a network to send copies of itself to other nodes (computer terminals on the network) and it may do so without any user intervention. Unlike a virus, it does not need to attach itself to an existing program. Worms almost always cause harm to the network, if only by consuming bandwidth, whereas viruses almost always corrupt or modify files on a targeted computer.

Many worms have been created which are only designed to spread, and don’t attempt to alter the systems they pass through. However, as the Morris worm and Mydoom showed, the network traffic and other unintended effects can often cause major disruption. A “payload” is code designed to do more than spread the worm – it might delete files on a host system (e.g., the ExploreZip worm), encrypt files in a cryptoviral extortion attack, or send documents via e-mail. A very common payload for worms is to install a backdoor in the infected computer to allow the creation of a “zombie” under control of the worm author – Sobig and Mydoom are examples which created zombies. Networks of such machines are often referred to as botnets and are very commonly used by spam senders for sending junk email or to cloak their website’s address.

Crapflooding: the practice of disrupting online media such as discussion websites or Usenet newsgroups with nonsensical, inane, and/or repetitive postings (flooding with crap) in order to make it difficult for other users to read other postings. It can also be motivated by a desire to waste the targeted site’s bandwidth and storage space with useless text.

Cyber-stalking: repeatedly sending message that include threats of harm or are highly intimidating; engaging in other online activities that make a person afraid for his or her safety.

Denial-of-Service Attack (DoS attack): or distributed denial-of-service attack (DDoS attack) is an attempt to make a computer resource unavailable to its intended users. Although the means to, motives for, and targets of a DoS attack may vary, it generally consists of the concerted, malevolent efforts of a person or persons to prevent an Internet site or service from functioning efficiently or at all, temporarily or indefinitely.

E-mail spoofing: a term used to describe fraudulent email activity in which the sender address and other parts of the email header are altered to appear as though the email originated from a different source. E-mail spoofing is a technique commonly used for spam e-mail and phishing to hide the origin of an e-mail message.

False flag operations: covert operations conducted by governments, corporations, or other organizations, which are designed to appear like they are being carried out by other entities.

Flaming: online fights using electronic messages with angry and vulgar language.

Griefers: differ from typical players in that they do not play the game in order to achieve objectives defined by the game world. Instead, they seek to harass other players, causing grief. In particular, they may use tools such as stalking, hurling insults, and exploiting unintended game mechanics. Griefing as a gaming play style is not simply any action that may be considered morally incorrect.

Hacker: someone involved in computer security/insecurity, specializing in the discovery of exploits in systems (for exploitation or prevention), or in obtaining or preventing unauthorized access to systems through skills, tactics and detailed knowledge. In the most common general form of this usage, “hacker” refers to a black-hat hacker (a malicious or criminal hacker).

Internet Bots: also known as web robots, WWW robots or simply bots, are software applications that run automated tasks over the Internet.

Internet troll (or simply troll in Internet slang): someone who posts controversial and usually irrelevant or off-topic messages in an online community, such as an online discussion forum or chat room, with the intention of baiting other users into an emotional response[1] or to generally disrupt normal on-topic discussion.

Joe Job: a spam attack using spoofed sender data. Aimed at tarnishing the reputation of the apparent sender and/or induce the recipients to take action against him (see also e-mail spoofing).

Keystroke Logging (often called keylogging): a method of capturing and recording user keystrokes. Keylogging can be useful to determine sources of errors in computer systems, to study how users interact and access with systems, and is sometimes used to measure employee productivity on certain clerical tasks. Such systems are also highly useful for law enforcement and espionage—for instance, providing a means to obtain passwords or encryption keys and thus bypassing other security measures.

Lurker: a person who reads discussions on a message board, newsgroup, chatroom, file sharing or other interactive system, but rarely participates.

Malware: software designed to infiltrate or damage a computer system without the owner’s informed consent. The term is a portmanteau of the words malicious and software. The expression is a general term used by computer professionals to mean a variety of forms of hostile, intrusive, or annoying software or program code.

Money Mule: a person who transfers money and reships high value goods that have been fraudulently obtained in one country, usually via the internet, to another country, usually where the perpetrator of the fraud lives. The term money mule is formed by analogy with drug mules.

The need for money mules arises because while a criminal in a developing country can obtain the credit card numbers, bank account numbers, passwords and other financial details of a victim living in the first world via the internet through techniques such as malware and phishing, turning those details into money usable in the criminal’s own country can be difficult. Many businesses will refuse to transfer money or ship goods to certain countries where there is a high likelihood that the transaction is fraudulent. The criminal therefore recruits a money mule in the victim’s country who receives money transfers and merchandise and resend them to the criminal in return for a commission.

Nigerian 419 Fraud Scheme (or an advance fee fraud): a confidence trick in which the target is persuaded to advance relatively small sums of money in the hope of realizing a much larger gain.[

Peer to Peer (or "P2P"): computer network that uses diverse connectivity between participants in a network and the cumulative bandwidth of network participants rather than conventional centralized resources where a relatively low number of servers provide the core value to a service or application. P2P networks are typically used for connecting nodes via largely ad hoc connections. Such networks are useful for many purposes. Sharing content files (see file sharing) containing audio, video, data or anything in digital format is very common, and realtime data, such as telephony traffic, is also passed using P2P technology.

Pharming (pronounced farming) is a hacker's attack aiming to redirect a website's traffic to another, bogus website.

Phishing is an attempt to criminally and fraudulently acquire sensitive information, such as usernames, passwords and credit card details, by masquerading as a trustworthy entity in an electronic communication. PayPal, eBay and online banks are common targets. Phishing is typically carried out by e-mail or instant messaging,[1] and often directs users to enter details at a website, although phone contact has also been used.

Phreaking: a slang term coined to describe the activity of a subculture of people who study, experiment with, or explore telecommunication systems, like equipment and systems connected to public telephone networks. The term “phreak” is a portmanteau of the words “phone” and “freak”. It may also refer to the use of various audio frequencies to manipulate a phone system. “Phreak”, “phreaker”, or “phone phreak” are names used for and by individuals who participate in phreaking. Additionally, it is often associated with computer hacking. This is sometimes called the H/P culture (with H standing for Hacking and P standing for Phreaking).

Pigeon Drop: the name of a confidence trick in which a mark or “pigeon” is convinced to give up a sum of money in order to secure the rights to a larger sum of money, or more valuable object. In reality the scammers make off with the money and the mark is left with nothing.

Piggybacking:  a term used to refer to access of a wireless internet connection by bringing one’s own computer within the range of another’s wireless connection, and using that service without the subscriber’s explicit permission or knowledge. It is a legally and ethically controversial practice, with laws that vary in jurisdictions around the world. While completely outlawed in some jurisdictions, it is permitted in others. Piggybacking is used as a means of hiding illegal activities, such as downloading child pornography or engaging in identity theft. This is one main reason for controversy.

Pod Slurping: the act of using a portable data storage device such as an iPod digital audio player to illicitly download large quantities of confidential data by directly plugging it into a computer where the data is held, and which may be on the inside of a firewall. As these storage devices become smaller and their storage capacity becomes greater, they are becoming an increasing security risk to companies and government agencies. Access is gained while the computer is unattended.

Rootkit: a program (or combination of several programs) designed to take fundamental control (in Unix terms “root” access, in Windows terms “Administrator” access) of a computer system, without authorization by the system’s owners and legitimate managers. Access to the hardware (i.e., the reset switch) is rarely required as a rootkit is intended to seize control of the operating system running on the hardware. Typically, rootkits act to obscure their presence on the system through subversion or evasion of standard operating system security mechanisms. Often, they are also Trojans as well, thus fooling users into believing they are safe to run on their systems. Techniques used to accomplish this can include concealing running processes from monitoring programs, or hiding files or system data from the operating system

Scam Baiting is the practice of pretending interest in a fraudulent scheme in order to manipulate a scammer. The purpose of scam baiting might be to waste the scammers’ time, embarrass him or her, cause him or her to reveal information which can be passed on to legal authorities, get him or her to waste money, or simply to amuse the baiter.

Script kiddie (occasionally script bunny, skiddie, script kitty, script-running juvenile (SRJ), or similar): a derogatory term used for an inexperienced malicious hacker who uses programs developed by others to attack computer systems, and deface websites.

Shareware: a marketing method for computer software in which the software can be obtained by a user, often by downloading from the Internet or on magazine cover-disks free of charge to try out a program before buying the full version of that program. If the “tryout” program is already the full version, it is available for a short amount of time, or it does not have updates, help, and other extras that buying the added programs has. Shareware has also been known as “try before you buy”. A shareware program is accompanied by a request for payment, and the software’s distribution license often requires such a payment

Smishing: short for “SMS phishing” (SMiShing) is an attempt to get cellular phone and mobile device owners to download a Trojan horse, virus or other malware by clinking on a link included in a SMS text message.  

Sneakernet: a tongue-in-cheek term used to describe the transfer of electronic information, especially computer files, by physically carrying removable media such as magnetic tape, floppy disks, compact discs, USB flash drives, or external hard drives from one computer to another.

Snarfing: information theft or data manipulation in wireless local-area networks (WLAN).

Social engineering: the art of manipulating people into performing actions or divulging confidential information.[1] While similar to a confidence trick or simple fraud, the term typically applies to trickery for information gathering or computer system access and in most cases the attacker never comes face-to-face with the victim.

Sockpuppet: an online identity used for purposes of deception within an Internet community. In its earliest usage, a sockpuppet was a false identity through which a member of an Internet community speaks while pretending not to, like a puppeteer manipulating a hand puppet.[1]  A sockpuppet-like use of deceptive fake identities is used in stealth marketing. The stealth marketer creates one or more pseudonymous accounts, each one claiming to be owned by a different enthusiastic supporter of the sponsor’s product or book or ideology. A single such sockpuppet is a shill; creating large numbers of them to fake a “grass-roots” upswelling of support is known as astroturfing.

Software cracking: the modification of software to remove protection methods: copy prevention, trial/demo version, serial number, hardware key, CD check or software annoyances like nag screens and adware.

Spamming: the abuse of electronic messaging systems to indiscriminately send unsolicited bulk messages. While the most widely recognized form of spam is e-mail spam, the term is applied to similar abuses in other media: instant messaging spam, Usenet newsgroup spam, Web search engine spam, spam in blogs, wiki spam, mobile phone messaging spam, Internet forum spam and junk fax transmissions.

Spear Phishing: Targeted versions of phishing have been termed spear phishing.[19] Several recent phishing attacks have been directed specifically at senior executives and other high profile targets within businesses, and the term whaling has been coined for these kinds of attacks.

Sporgery: the disruptive act of posting a flood of articles to a Usenet newsgroup, with the article headers falsified so that they appear to have been posted by others. The word is a portmanteau of spam and forgery.

Spyware: is computer software that is installed surreptitiously on a personal computer to intercept or take partial control over the user’s interaction with the computer, without the user’s informed consent.

While the term spyware suggests software that secretly monitors the user’s behavior, the functions of spyware extend well beyond simple monitoring. Spyware programs can collect various types of personal information, such as Internet surfing habit, sites that have been visited, but can also interfere with user control of the computer in other ways, such as installing additional software, redirecting Web browser activity, accessing websites blindly that will cause more harmful viruses, or diverting advertising revenue to a third party. Spyware can even change computer settings, resulting in slow connection speeds, different home pages, and loss of Internet or other program.

Stealware: refers to a type of software that effectively transfers money owed to a website owner to a third party. Specifically, stealware uses an HTTP cookie to redirect the commission ordinarily earned by the site for referring users to another site.

Trojan horse (or simply Trojan):  a piece of software which appears to perform a certain action but in fact performs another such as transmitting a computer virus. Contrary to popular belief, this action, usually encoded in a hidden payload, may or may not be actually malicious, but Trojan horses are notorious today for their use in the installation of backdoor programs. Simply put, a Trojan horse is not a computer virus. Unlike such malware, it does not propagate by self-replication but relies heavily on the exploitation of an end-user (see Social engineering).

Vishing: is the criminal practice of using social engineering and Voice over IP (VoIP) to gain access to private personal and financial information from the public for the purpose of financial reward. The term is a combination of “voice” and phishing. Vishing exploits the public’s trust in landline telephone services, which have traditionally terminated in physical locations which are known to the telephone company, and associated with a bill-payer. The victim is often unaware that VoIP allows for caller ID spoofing, inexpensive, complex automated systems and anonymity for the bill-payer. Vishing is typically used to steal credit card numbers or other information used in identity theft schemes from individuals.

VoIP Spam: the proliferation of unwanted, automatically-dialed, pre-recorded phone calls using Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). Some pundits have taken to referring to it as SPIT (for “Spam over Internet Telephony”).

War dialing: a technique of using a modem to automatically scan a list of telephone numbers, usually dialing every number in a local area code to search for unknown computers, BBS systems or fax machines. Hackers use the resulting lists for various purposes.

Wardriving: the act of searching for Wi-Fi wireless networks by a person in a moving vehicle using such items as a laptop or a PDA.

Warspying: detecting and viewing wireless video; usually done by driving around with an x10 receiver. Warspying is similar to “Wardriving” only with wireless video instead of wireless networks.

Web crawler (also known as a web spider or web robot or – especially in the FOAF community – web scutter): a program or automated script which browses the World Wide Web in a methodical, automated manner. Other less frequently used names for web crawlers are ants, automatic indexers, bots, and worms. This process is called web crawling or spidering. Many sites, in particular search engines, use spidering as a means of providing up-to-date data.

White Hat: the hero or good guy, especially in computing slang, where it refers to an ethical hacker that focuses on securing and protecting IT systems. Such people are employed by computer security companies where these professionals are sometimes called sneakers.[citation needed] Groups of these people are often called tiger teams.

Zombie computer (often shortened as Zombie): a computer attached to the Internet that has been compromised by a hacker, a computer virus, or a Trojan horse. Generally, a compromised machine is only one of many in a Botnet, and will be used to perform malicious tasks of one sort or another under remote direction.

As a process server I find that my skills at times are tested. When these difficult serves arise I must remember that I am an investigator first. Process servers and investigators alike must have the skills of creativity, logic, communication and the ability to use innovative techniques to complete an efficient serve.

Planning and Preparation:
Planning and preparation is so important to any successful process server. As part of your preparation for an assignment, you should always gather as much information as possible on the individual you are about to serve.
As a standard, I always ask the client if the following information is available on the individual I am about to serve:

• Name, address and personal phone numbers
• Work address and work phone number
• Aliases or nicknames
• What kind of vehicle do they drive? Year, make, model, color or other unique identifiers are helpful too.
• Does the client have a picture or physical description of the person to be served?
• Is there a specific time service should be made?
• Have they been avoiding service or are they expecting and agreeable to service?
• Can the documents be sub-served?
• Is the individual known to be violent?

I also like to do a quick pre-surveillance check of the area in which I will be serving by using a variety of Internet tools such as Google Maps, Google Street Views and Microsoft’s Bing Maps (formerly Live Maps). This allows me to get familiar with the surroundings, alerts me to any potential hazards and may identify any other entry points to the address.

A prepared process server is a successful process server!

Unwilling and Evasive Individuals
Our standard service of process rates are based on 3 diligent attempts over a period of six days at varying times. What happens if I do not get the individual on the 3rd attempt or they appear to evading service?

Search Public Records. Before charging any additional costs to my client, I like to quickly check my local clerk’s public records on line. I check for pending court cases and updated information. I have found pending court cases on many individuals and ended up serving them in court right before their appearance. In searching these free public records, I have also found updated addresses that our client may not have had.

Conduct Simple Internet Research. Sometimes a lot of information about a person can be found through just a simple Internet search. I found an individual’s current employment address just by viewing their Linkedin Profile.

Talk to Neighbors. Talk to neighbors to find out the habits or whereabouts of the individual you are trying to serve. Sometimes you will find that the individual is on vacation or works odd hours. Always be cautious when talking to neighbors; they do not need to know anything about the case or the true nature of your visit (you don’t want the neighbor to put your defendant on notice).

Take Notes. Document all evidence that supports the fact that the individual you have been trying to serve is evading service. Attorneys can often file a pleading to the court regarding the evasive defendant and they will need your factual information in order to do so.

Remember to always work out a cost effective plan with your client to deal with unwilling or evasive individuals ahead of time. Here are some additional service techniques that many of us use in these difficult situations:

1. Find out if a request for a change of address has been filed with the Post Office.
2. Skip trace the subject using a dependable nationwide database provider, this can often yield additional billable hours or service fees.
3. Conduct a stakeout. We oftentimes can serve difficult service after a short surveillance and “service by ambush.” This is another lucrative add-on service!
4. If you have phone numbers for the individual, use creative pretexting techniques.
   Of course before conducting any skip trace or pretext remember to follow your state laws and regulations:
   • NEVER represent yourself as a law enforcement officer, clergyman, employee or member of an actual company.
   • MAINTAIN CONFIDENTIALITY. Do not reveal personal or intimate information about your subject to individuals having no right to or need for such information.
   • NEVER use your correct name or leave your telephone number.
   • NEVER pretext to obtain information from financial institutions, telephone companies or other protected information.
5. Be innovative and creative. Sometimes you just have to think outside of the box. Serving evasive individuals is like a game of “cat and mouse,” but by putting your investigative expertise and creativity to work you can often catch the individual off guard. For example… I had to serve a taxi driver once and he was evading service at his home and at work. I ended up calling his taxi service and asked for the driver to pick me up at my office; the call was under the pretense that I needed a ride to the airport. When he came to pick me up, I was able to serve him successfully… Out of courtesy, I paid his cab fare to my location… it was worth the effort and the client did not mind picking up the tab on this very important assignment.

There is a pretty good chance that you will outsmart your evasive or unwilling recipient by using creative techniques, thinking quickly and being persistent. If you are in doubt of using an unusual method of service of process consult with your attorney to ensure you are operating within the laws and regulations of your jurisdiction.

If you have some innovative, creative tips and tricks of serving evasive clients I would love to hear from you. Join us on our forum to discuss additional difficult process serving tips in detail.

This article was written by Stephanie Mitchell and is posted courtesy IRBseach, LLC.

IRBsearch offers The Most information, The Best data sources, and The Fastest delivery for locating people, businesses, and their assets. With one click you can search billions of records in just a fraction of a second.

Proper use of this basic principle in all investigative processes not only helps develop solutions to difficult questions, but it teaches investigators who use it to reason analytically in each step of their investigation. Skip tracers must use a certain pattern of thought to lead from one step to the next. Leaving out steps due to preconceived notions, are a disservice to a skip tracer’s work. It is necessary to use good, sound, methodology to ensure success. Above all else, the powers of observation are integral to what we do.

American jurist William Wirt once said, “Perhaps there is no property in which men are more distinguished from each other, than in the various degrees in which they possess the faculty of observation. The great herd of mankind pass their lives in listless inattention and indifference as to what is going on around them, while those who are destined to distinction have a lynx-eyed vigilance that nothing can escape.”

The fictional detective Sherlock Holmes is a familiar character with notoriously astute powers of observation. In Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes story, “The Red-Headed League”, Holmes states the following about Jabez Wilson, whom he has just met, “Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual labor, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has been to China, and that he has done a considerable amount of writing lately, I can deduce nothing else.” After a single glance, Holmes was able to deduce all these points about Wilson. He stated of his method of detection, “You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of trifles.” Holmes also said to Dr. Watson, “Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring you to realize the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of thumbnails, or the great issues that may hang from a bootlace.” Holmes was a proponent of the basic theorem that everything is significant.

How does a person become an effective observer? The first way is consciously practicing the discipline of looking and remembering. Effective observation depends on a properly trained memory. In an investigation, vision is worthless if not retained. Your own powers of observation are just as important while conducting a missing persons investigation as in any other complex assignment. In your search for the subject you may come across a great deal of information that may not readily be deduced as important. I have both caught and missed glaring examples of what we in the business would call a clue; I really hate it when I miss the obvious importance of small bits of information especially when I am looking over the same tidbits of information for the second or third time. In these moments, I have to tell myself to slow down, take a deep breath and actually see everything I am looking at. Additionally, I like to ask myself questions in order to focus.

Do all of the information and personal identifiers I have collected match? What am I missing that’s important? Have I been through all of my sources? Have I followed a well prepared plan or checklist? Etc., Etc.

By focusing in this way I have picked up on very subtle clues which positively contribute to the funnel process we’ve previously discussed: missed references and emergency contact information, addresses and postmarks on envelopes, account numbers and addresses on checks previously sent to the client by a debtor, the “dealer badge” or license plate frame on the back of a car, caller ID information, license plates, vehicles or obvious location information found in photographs… the list goes on and on.

I remember a case I had a few years ago, I was looking for a bail jumper and had developed an investigative file on him that filled three file folders and at least 50 investigator hours. The bail jumper had failed to appear for court on at least four other occasions. I was sure that I had been through every speck of information at least several times and I was at an absolute stand-still on the assignment. Exasperated and needing a new perspective, I handed the file to my wife who went through it once and pointed out a small hand written address at the bottom of a page in the bond release paperwork that the skip had signed prior to being released from jail. I guess I glossed over the address, but sure enough the address was different from every other address with which I had followed up and should have been obvious that I missed it. I drove by the residence and the subject was out front washing his car (it ended up being his residence) and I closed the assignment about 30 seconds later.

Incidentally, the bail bondsman said that afternoon that the cosigner had called him at least half a dozen times wanting to know how I found the defendant. It would appear that they knew what they were doing and that they had learned from prior mistakes- he and his cosigner (his girlfriend) were professional runners. I imagine that in his haste to complete his paperwork and get out of the “cross bar hotel,” the defendant messed up just once- which in the end was all that I needed to find him (not to mention my more observant wife). This brings me to another valid point… never tell a skip or other runner how you found them… it only makes it harder on the next guy if the subject has to be found again.

Call it professional courtesy.

The important take-away here is that we all need to improve our own powers of observation in an effort to be better investigators. Slowing down, looking over the information with a fresh perspective and realizing that nothing is insignificant.

Having the right tools and never giving up doesn’t hurt either.