Tech Jamming & Signal Defense

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Purpose of This Role

Surveillance and digital interference are growing threats to organizing, mutual aid, and protest safety. The Tech Jamming role supports:

• Preserving communication under surveillance
• Preventing tracking and monitoring
• Disrupting hostile tech tools or signals (if needed)
• Responding rapidly to digital compromise

This is a high-risk, highly technical role requiring deep trust, ethics, and teamwork.

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Understand the Threat Landscape

Threat Type	Description
Cell tower spoofing	Fake towers intercepting calls or SMS
IMSI catchers	Devices tracking phone numbers or capturing data
Stingrays	Government-grade surveillance mimicking real towers
WiFi injection	Forcing connections to capture or modify traffic
Bluetooth sniffing	Passive location tracking via BT devices
Geofencing alerts	Triggers based on entry/exit from zones
Radio scanning	Intercepts open-band (FRS/GMRS) comms

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Jamming vs Shielding vs Redirecting

Method	Purpose	Risk
Jamming	Interrupts wireless signals like WiFi, LTE, radio	🔥 High (illegal in most areas)
Shielding	Physically blocks signals using Faraday gear	✅ Low
Redirecting	Routes traffic through safer channels (e.g. VPNs)	⚠️ Moderate

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Tools of the Trade

Tool	Purpose	Risk
Faraday bags	Block signals to/from devices	Low
Mesh radios (Meshtastic/goTenna)	Encrypted local communication	Low
SDR scanners	Detect or analyze signals (e.g. IMSI catchers)	Moderate
Signal-blocking tape	Spot-shielding phones or radios	Low
VPN with kill switch	Prevent IP leaks if disconnected	Low
RF analyzers	Detect frequency spikes or interference	Moderate
Low-power jammers	Disrupt signals (where legal)	Very High

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Compromised Gear Protocol

If your gear is seized, corrupted, or compromised:

• 🧹 Wipe: Secure-erase any logs, SIMs, or temp files immediately
• 🔐 Lock: Use passcodes and remote disable tools (e.g. Find My Device kill switch)
• 📦 Contain: Place compromised gear in Faraday bag and isolate
• ⚠️ Log: Record incident details (time, location, type of breach)
• 🧠 Escalate: Inform digital security team or dispatch lead

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Deployment Checklist

• 🔲 Devices charged, firmware updated
• 🔲 VPN active and tested
• 🔲 SIMs removed or disabled
• 🔲 Faraday bags ready for fallback
• 🔲 Mesh radios synced, field-tested
• 🔲 Emergency comms plan confirmed

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Multi-Layer Communication Strategy

Use the Least Privilege Principle: Only trusted people should access signal gear.

Tier	Method	Use Case
1	Encrypted apps (Signal, Session)	Primary secure messaging
2	Mesh radios	Peer-to-peer fallback
3	QR codes, briefings, paper maps	No-signal environments

Always assume cellular and open-band channels are monitored.

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Counter-Surveillance Habits

• 🔐 Lock devices with passcodes or biometrics
• 📵 Use airplane mode or power off when idle
• ❌ Avoid tracking-based apps
• 🎭 Rotate identities and burner devices
• 👀 Do not leave devices unattended

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Situational Response Guide

🚨 You detect an IMSI catcher

• 🔔 Alert team leads + dispatch immediately
• 🔁 Switch to fallback comms (mesh, runners)
• 🛡️ Shield devices with Faraday protection
• 📝 Log location and time for review

📵 Area suddenly loses reception

• Suspect jamming or tower spoofing
• Switch to offline or mesh-based fallback
• Use visual codes if planned
• Don’t panic—assess, then regroup

🎯 Volunteer is being tracked

• Power down device or remove SIM
• Shield the phone in a Faraday container
• Refrain from destruction unless safety-critical
• Flag for digital security follow-up

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Working as a Team

Coordinate closely with:

• 🧭 Dispatchers – fallback protocols and rotation
• 🚶 Field leads – safe placement of devices
• 👁️ Legal observers – document surveillance activity
• ✋ De-escalators – support during tense moments

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Legal Risks & Ethical Boundaries

✅ Only operate in legal bands or shield locally
❌ Never disrupt emergency, hospital, or aid frequencies
✅ Log every use of interference or shielding tools
❌ Don’t provoke—your job is defense, not attack

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After an Action

• 🧼 Wipe logs, rotate credentials
• 🔒 Archive incident notes securely
• 🧠 Debrief with dispatch and digital ops
• 📦 Store signal gear offline when not in use

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Glossary

Faraday Bag – A pouch that blocks radio frequencies.
IMSI Catcher – Device mimicking a cell tower to intercept phones.
Mesh Radio – Peer-to-peer encrypted comms tool not relying on cell or WiFi.
SDR – Software-defined radio; scans, analyzes, or fakes signals.
Wardriving – Mapping WiFi signals using GPS.

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Summary

You protect movement safety through digital discretion and tech literacy.

Keep tools sharp, data clean, and risks low.
Preserve the signal—don’t become the noise.

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Ready to Certify?

If you understand the risks, tools, and responsibilities of Tech Jamming & Signal Defense, you may now proceed to the certification test.