Recognizing Surveillance: Awareness & Countermeasures
Series: 90-Day Survival Guide Sprint — Guide #9
Category: Preparation / OPSEC
Difficulty: Intermediate
Last Updated: April 2, 2026
When This Matters
Understanding surveillance becomes important during:
| Situation | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Political organizing | Knowing if activities are monitored |
| Journalistic work | Protecting sources and investigations |
| High-profile activism | When targeted by opposition |
| Stalking/harassment | Recognizing and documenting abuse |
| Civil unrest | Understanding police monitoring tactics |
| Personal safety | General situational awareness |
The Reality: Surveillance is ubiquitous:
- CCTV cameras in most public spaces
- License plate readers on police cars and highways
- Cell phone tracking through tower triangulation
- Social media monitoring by various actors
- Data brokers aggregating your information
Types of Surveillance
Physical Surveillance
| Type | Description | Detection |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed surveillance | Stationary observation post | Medium |
| Mobile surveillance | Following on foot or vehicle | Medium |
| Technical surveillance | Cameras, listening devices, trackers | Hard |
| Undercover | Blended into environment | Hard |
Digital Surveillance
| Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Network monitoring | ISP sees your traffic |
| Device compromise | Malware, spyware on device |
| Account monitoring | Access to online accounts |
| Metadata collection | Call records, location data |
| Social media monitoring | Public posts and activity |
Recognizing Physical Surveillance
Signs You’re Being Followed (On Foot)
| Indicator | What to Look For | Reliability |
|---|---|---|
| Repeated sightings | Same person in multiple locations | HIGH |
| Mirrored movement | Person turns when you turn | HIGH |
| Inappropriate presence | Person doesnt fit environment | MEDIUM |
| Attention focus | Person watching you specifically | MEDIUM |
| Vehicle association | Person enters/exits same vehicle | HIGH |
Signs You’re Being Followed (In Vehicle)
| Indicator | What to Look For |
|---|---|
| Same vehicle | Appears repeatedly in mirrors |
| Unusual positioning | Vehicle stays close behind |
| Turn mirroring | Vehicle makes same turns |
| Speed matching | Matches your speed exactly |
| Multiple vehicles | Vehicles swap positions |
Counter-Surveillance Techniques
Basic Awareness Practices
- Vary your routines - Different routes and times
- Practice situational awareness - Notice your surroundings
- Use reflections - Windows, mirrors to see behind
- Make unexpected turns - Test if followed
- Note vehicle descriptions - Make, model, color, plates
- Identify safe spaces - Places to go if concerned
Surveillance Detection Routes (SDR)
Purpose: Determine if youre being followed
Basic SDR Pattern:
- Start from normal location
- Take route with multiple turns
- Include stops at traffic lights
- Make one U-turn
- End at observation point
- Watch for vehicles that followed entire route
Red Flags:
- Same vehicle throughout route
- Vehicle appears after multiple turns
- No legitimate reason for same path
Digital Surveillance Protection
Phone Security
| Practice | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Disable location services | Prevents tracking |
| Use airplane mode | Blocks all signals temporarily |
| Turn off WiFi/Bluetooth | Prevents passive tracking |
| Review app permissions | Apps may track location |
| Use Signal for calls/texts | Encrypted communication |
Online Privacy
| Practice | Implementation |
|---|---|
| Use privacy-focused browser | Firefox with privacy extensions |
| Enable tracker blocking | uBlock Origin, Privacy Badger |
| Use VPN | Hides IP address from sites |
| Review social media privacy | Limit public information |
| Use burner email | For non-critical signups |
Legal Considerations
Your Rights (US General)
- Public spaces: No expectation of privacy
- Photography: Generally legal in public
- Recording police: Legal in most states (check local laws)
- Following: Legal if no harassment or trespassing
When to Document
- Repeated unwanted following
- Vehicles parked outside home repeatedly
- Suspicious technical devices found
- Pattern of harassment
When to Contact Authorities
- Immediate threat to safety
- Evidence of stalking
- Trespassing on private property
- Harassment or threats
Common Mistakes to Avoid
| Mistake | Why Its Bad |
|---|---|
| Paranoia | Seeing surveillance everywhere |
| Confrontation | Escalates situation unnecessarily |
| Illegal countermeasures | Can create legal problems |
| Ignoring digital footprint | Online tracking is common |
| No documentation | Hard to prove patterns |
Required Tools Checklist
Essential
- Situational awareness habits
- Phone location services disabled when not needed
- Privacy-focused browser installed
- Social media privacy settings reviewed
Recommended
- Signal app for secure communication
- VPN service for internet use
- Dashcam for vehicle documentation
- Notebook for documenting observations
Sources
- EFF Surveillance Self-Defense: https://ssd.eff.org
- ACLU Know Your Rights: https://aclu.org
This is Guide #9 of the 90-Day Survival Guide Sprint.
Tags: opsec, surveillance, awareness, counter-surveillance, intermediate