Operational security professionals work to figure out where their information can be breached. That said, it doesn’t really matter what industry you’re in. If you have any sensitive, proprietary information at all, then you could very well be a target. This is a good thing to always keep in mind!
Disclaimer ❗️
All of the information on my blog and on my social media sites, including this article, is strictly for introductory purposes!
Looking at operations from a malicious third-party’s perspective allows us to spot vulnerabilities we may have otherwise missed so that we can implement proper countermeasures…
To answer your questions beforehand:
Firstly, for an ideal OpSec I recommend either developing an own programming language (done by different remote & in-house teams) with your own semantics or becoming a developer yourself, or avoiding using ANY third-party software, implying that it can be compromised, and developing tools and apps in dependance on your needs completely on your own.
This is all correct, but nothing stops you from doing a fork or ordering an independent audit of the tools you are going to use , does it? With all said, it all depends on what you are going to get in result and against whom you are acting.
Let’s say we deal with a Duress tool. As such, it can be used wrong (e.g. weak password), or used to do bad things (e.g., exfiltrate intellectual property).
On the opposite, we can just use Steganography and a small paper, without even touching the computer. Both attitudes has the right to exist, in my honest opinion!
I highly recommend to purchase a hardware wallet directly from the manufacturer's website rather than online retailers like Amazon/eBay. It is also advised to use an alternative email address or a virtual office to protect your personal information in case of a data leak. I also don’t like trusting hardware. Therefore, we all should have physical ciphers! Once again, study Steganography!
All of the above refers to the criticism of tools as such and their role in OpSec.
Secondly, regarding big lists. Japan was the first country to invent the work that we do now in the form of SoKs or Awesome GitHub lists! If anyone is still around, browsers used to be sort of a table or database of websites, many of which were quite…uninspiring.
I also really enjoy applying anthropology, particularly when it involves online phenomena.
«Antenna-websites» were created at that time. There, their authors gathered a variety of resources that were related by a common subject to make someone’s life easier! In some ways, the creators of Awesome Lists and start.me continue this idea now. And it's fantastically amazing!
Last but not least, everything you do is based on the outcomes you need to achieve! You should be able to select reliable and vetted sources instead of using all the tools and links. Through given routes, you ought to be able to construct your own journey!
Following that, I will tell you about the ways that I deem safe and recommend to my clients!
The most important thing to understand here is the path of the cyber attack – its vector. Let's take a closer look at various problems associated with OpSec and its implementation to modern life!
I - Basic Security Knowledge
Use a secure email provider like Protonmail or Tutanota. Also use trused VPN like Mullvad or ProtonVPN. E2E (end-to-end) encryption is only as secure as the service you are sending the email to.
For example, if a Protonmail user sends an email to a GMail user, the email is encrypted with TLS, but Google can still read and hand over any data that passes through their server. E2E can be re-established by using features such as the password-protected email feature from Protonmail.
Password
Use different emails and different strong passwords. Store them in one place like a password manager. Never reuse passwords, especially for accounts with personally identifiable and sensitive information (e.g. Facebook, Gmail, AppleID, Twitter, banks/payments, crypto accounts).
Use passwords that are at least 8 characters in length, but a minimum of 12 is generally recommended for memorization. Along with that, if using memorization, ensure that a minimum complexity requirement is met: which means having an uppercase character, a lowercase character, a digit, and a non-alphabetic character.
Using a string of unrelated words while still meeting the dictionary requirement makes it easy to have an extremely secure password while still being able to remember it. If fully relying on a password manager, a password of 20+ characters in length that is randomly generated can be used.
On the opposite:
For 2FA one can use KeePass + Yubikey as well. KeePass allows setting up TOTP to any entry in your .kdbx file. Yubikey could be used in company with KeePass to add a bit of entropy on each re-encryption when adding an entry in your db file: Ref No.1; Ref No.2; Ref No.3.
If you see suspicious password activity or failed log-ins on any of your accounts, change all of your passwords, starting with sensitive and authorization accounts, such as your primary email and bank/crypto accounts. KeePass or KeePassDX or KeePassXC or BitWarden are good options. I also found this tutorial for integrity check (and other checks) very helpful, be sure to check it out as well: link.
Phone
Never link phone numbers to crypto platforms. Use trusted multiple e-sims if you have to link the phone. To lock down your SIM, contact your mobile phone carrier. Ask them to NEVER make changes to your phone number/SIM unless you physically show up to a specific store with at minimum two forms of identification.
This (should) prevent hackers from calling up AT&T or T-Mobile or Vodafone, claiming to be you, and asking them to port your phone number to a new phone.
OTP & 2FA
Instead of SMS-based 2FA, use Aegis OTP for iOS or Android. Google Authenticator is generally not recommended anymore in order to stay out of the Google ecosystem, and Authy offers more robust account recovery options (Aegis does not offer the same level of account recovery options).
On the opposite:
Aegis Authenticator is open source (licensed under GPL v3) and the source code can be found here. The issue with Authy is that it depends on a phone number which can be changed through an email request, allowing anyone access to HOTP/TOTP after an approximate 4-day wait period. To avoid that, disable multi-device!
Keep in mind that the codes generated by 2FA apps are device specific. If your account is not manually backed up to Google cloud or iCloud and you lose your phone, you’ll need to spend some time proving your identity to restore your 2FA. The added security is worth the hassle!
Check out: Portable Secret!
Hardware-based 2FA options are regarded as more secure than phone-based OTP options since the keys are stored on the YubiKey device itself, not on your phone, or in the cloud, or on your computer.
Check out:
Cold Storage
Cold storage, and separate “hot” wallet. Use multisig (gnosis-safe as example) or at least a hardware wallet. Never store your seed phrase digitally. Seed phrases are intended to be stored on the paper card included with hardware wallets! That means never type it up, store it online, or take a photo of the card.
Store your key on hard device. Separate devices to which you are connecting your cold storage. By separating crypto, work, and leisure you greatly increase your productivity and focus.
Back-ups
Offline back-ups. Store them in a safe. Can be written on paper, but recommended to be etched or laser-printed into metal. Always be sure to have a backup stored somewhere safe if your threat model allows for that.
Ask yourself, what happens if my house catches on fire? What temperature is my safe rated to? Some individuals find a safety deposit box handy.
Anti-Virus
Never do anything you do not understand. Always check which token you approve, transaction you sign, assets you send, etc - be extremely accurate while making any financial operation.
Keep in mind that one of possible attack vectors is to put you in a situation that will encourage you to do something (login or anything like that). You can install malwarebytes or Comodo or DrWeb antivirus but it won't help you if you do not understand them. Keep up your basic set of defending tools up to date.
Address
Be careful about using your real home address online for delivery purposes. Data breaches are now a daily occurrence, and many breaches include customer names and addresses. Your physical address is not as easily changeable as a phone number or email address, so be especially mindful about where you use it on the Internet. If you’re ordering pizza with crypto, order it for pickup instead of delivery.
When online shopping, use a different (and publicly available) address for package delivery. Options here include your workplace or drop boxes at delivery service providers like FedEx and your local postal service.
An important tip
Remember: You Could Be a Target! We are a natural target for all sorts of attacks — from garden-variety cybercriminals to competitive spying (sounds dramatic, but it’s real!). That said, it doesn’t really matter what industry you’re in. If you have any sensitive, proprietary information at all (and let’s face it, most people in crypto do), then you could very well be a target. This is a good thing to always keep in mind.
A culture of skepticism
Remain Vigilant - Create a culture of skepticism where they feel comfortable checking twice before clicking a link or responding to a request for sensitive information, and you’ll have a much more secure organization overall. Analyze security holes and other vulnerabilities. Assess your current safeguards and determine what, if any, loopholes or weaknesses exist that may be exploited to gain access to your sensitive data.
OpSec in public
OpSec often comes into play in public settings. For example, if members of your team are discussing work-related matters at a nearby lunch spot, during a conference, or over a beer, odds are that someone could overhear. As they say, loose lips can sink ships, so make sure you don’t discuss any sensitive company information while out in public.
Many OpSec missteps can be avoided by being more aware of your surroundings and the context in which you are speaking: what you’re saying, where you are, who you’re speaking to, and who might overhear. It’s a good idea to go over the “no-no’s” for your specific company during onboarding and to remind employees of them periodically.
Separating data
Identify your sensitive data, including your product research, intellectual property, financial statements, customer information, and employee information. This will be the data you will need to focus your resources on protecting.
Security awareness
Identify possible threats. For each category of information that you deem sensitive, you should identify what kinds of threats are present. While you should be wary of third parties trying to steal your information, you should also watch out for insider threats, such as negligent employees and disgruntled workers. Implement separation of duties. Make sure that those who work on your network are not the same people in charge of security.
Estimate losses
Appraise the level of risk associated with each vulnerability. Rank your vulnerabilities using factors such as the likelihood of an attack happening, the extent of damage that you would suffer, and the amount of work and time you would need to recover. The more likely and damaging an attack is, the more you should prioritize mitigating the associated risk.
Countermeasures
Get countermeasures in place. The last step of operational security is to create and implement a plan to eliminate threats and mitigate risks. This could include updating your hardware, creating new policies regarding sensitive data, or training employees on sound security practices and company policies.
Countermeasures should be straightforward and simple. Employees should be able to implement the measures required on their part with or without additional training. Incident response and disaster recovery planning are as well crucial components of a sound security posture. Even when operational security measures are robust, you must have a plan to identify risks, respond to them, and mitigate potential damages.
Keep your enemies close
Your level of OpSec usually depends on your threat model and which adversary you're up against. So it's hard to define how good your OpSec is. But I'd say it sounds pretty okay. I recommend watching:
II - OpSec when holding or working in Crypto industry
Starting up...
Understand that all sorts of blockchain.info, TrustWallet, MetaMask and other wallets are just interfaces. Make a cold wallet yourself. For example, from an old smartphone. You can also make a cold wallet with Electrum and let all the traffic through Tor. Know AirGap weak sides.
Never use your main cold storage and «Back Office PC» for casual work, but if you have to do it (and you know why you are doing it), use only open-source wallets!
Check out what are you signing and to which contract you are giving an approve!
Check what are you signing, if we speak about ETH and similar chains, never use your main cold storage for casual work, but if you have to (for example, sign a gnosis-safe multi-sig (2) (3) transaction), always check if there are no allowance approve(which allows to drain your wallet) or proxy (behind which mentioned function may be hiding). Revoke approvals here.
Be extremely aware when using a clipboard!
Always double check an address you've copied to the clipboard. There is an evil software existing which is called a Clipper - it can replace an address in your clipboard to a very similar-looking hacker's address which has the same symbols in the beginning and in the end as your original address.
Physical Attacks be like...
Accept as a fact that if the device falls into the hands of intruders, only custom capacitors can save your money (so that you can not get directly to the brains and read electric signals) and other things like self-destruction, epoxy, and so on. That is, ideally, you can not allow physical contact in any case. You can use special logic bombs or logic gates, extra passwords that trigger some kind of security action, alert events on your address via tenderly.co or Forta or using 2/3 multi-sig all the time from 3 different devices.
Anyway remember, the device must not fall into anyone's hands. One could also create a honeypot wallet and have a script that listens for tx's originating from those addresses that alerts authorities, security companies and/or friends & family that you are under duress, perhaps even sending your location or last known location based off a GPS chip phone with the alerts.
Forewarned is forearmed
Be aware of modern attack methods, carefully read step-by-step my Guide and a Compendium, you don't need a deep understanding of how hacks work exactly but that's important to know how does it looks like to be a victim. Counter-OSINT is important here as well. Read about it more here and here.
Study threat modeling (2) (3) and establish all possible threats even if they seem crazy to you. Being suspicion is always a good thing. After all, fake news only works best with those who carry it to their acquaintances, becoming a kind of donor.
In the same way with attacks, very often you may try to be hacked through acquaintances, pretending to be acquaintances or acquaintances themselves. Always keep this in mind. This world is cruel and dangerous.
III - Crypto OpSec on steroids
If we finally want to give people the opportunity to be their own bank, we must realize that in this case people must be able to replace all those services and actions for which traditional banks get money.
Banks have long been concerned about creating a system of protection not only in meeting rooms and the office management, but also in the security departments. Banks can use deep underground laboratories and huge Faraday cages for this purpose.
I am not asking you to comply with all of this, but you must remember the main rule:
Your level of OpSec usually depends on your threat model and which adversary you're up against. So it's hard to define how good your OpSec is.
Awesome security guides to follow:
Anonymity:
• hackmd.io/YKjhguQES_KeKYs-v1YC1w?both
• DeepWeb/DarkNet OpSec Guide 2022
Privacy:
• yawnbox.com/blog/how-to-use-an-ipad-as-a-secure-calling-and-messaging-device
• seirdy.one/posts/2022/07/09/stylometric-fingerprinting-redux
OpSec:
• telegra.ph/CIA-Officer--Monero-05-08
• github.com/OffcierCia/Crypto-OpSec-SelfGuard-RoadMap
• www.usenix.org/system/files/1401_08-12_mickens.pdf
For deals use escrow and with special services like safient.io, sarcophagus.io, safehaven.io. Use OpenSource password storage, self-hosted link system, reliable communication method from this sheet, use OpSec services, be aware of the latest anonymity and privacy techniques. Carefully read step-by-step my guide once again.
Don’t be afraid of links, you don’t need all of them but you should be able to pick up which will interest you the most for your own Pathway. Use extensive measures when working with files and always keep an eye on the latest security trends even if your area is far from it.
Take this subreddit and this awesome old & trusted resource as the first step.In our dangerous world anyone can become a target, especially in crypto. It sounds scary but it is possible, the main thing is to always think ahead.
Check out my OpSec Guide:
Kogaan! Zu'u wah dein hin faraan! 🐉
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