Action Research & Scouting
Use Tor Browser for sensitive research
When preparing for a direct action, it's very helpful to research the location or target online. This is a particularly important time to protect your identity so you don't become a target for more state surveillance.
Install Tor Browser and use it for your sensitive research.
Websites have advanced ways of tracking your browsing, even if you’re not logged in. Your IP address can be used to identify you.
Tor encrypts your traffic, relays it through multiple computers, and goes to great lengths to prevent online tracking in order to help you remain more anonymous online.
Example use cases: These are a few examples of situations where you may want to remain anonymous to protect yourself, your plans, and your comrades from being targeted by the state and corporations.
Researching the location of an action on Google Maps or Google Street View.
Researching who is on the board of a corporation you’re running a campaign against
Researching equipment to protect against tear gas
Do not sign in to any accounts while using Tor! This can expose your identity.
Advanced: Tor Browser can still leave behind small traces. Or if you have spyware on your computer, your activity can be monitored. To get the most complete anonymity possible, use the Tails operating system. It is an "ephemeral" operating system that uses Tor and never writes any information to a disk. You install it onto a USB stick and boot a "fresh" installation every time.
Scouting for a direct action
Most direct actions include a phase where some people scout the location to understand the area and how it's being used (security guards, surveillance cameras, etc.)
Ideally you would not bring any phones and not take any photos. That said, sometimes the situation requires it.
Use Organic Maps app for directions/navigation
How to use private navigation
Use Organic Maps (iPhone, Android) for the most private mapping when you need to get directions to do scouting for an action. It’s best to save an “offline map” for the region you need directions to.
Alternatively, you can print out paper directions.
Apple Maps also offers fairly good privacy as well. Make sure to save offline maps.
Disable location services and leave your phone in airplane mode while scouting (from the time you leave your house until you get back home.)
Take scouting photos/videos directly in the Signal camera
Signal stores media in its encrypted storage, keeping it safe from other apps and automatic syncing (e.g., to cloud storage).
Taking multiple photos at once: If you want to be able to take multiple photos at a time, go to the camera then press the Plus icon in the bottom left. This will enter “multi-mode” so you can take a lot of photos before pressing send.
Create a special signal group with your fellow scouts or organizers. Enable disappearing messages (set to auto-delete after the action) and delete the group when finished for added privacy.
Tip: You can also send photos as “view once” in Signal.
Have Questions?
Let us know if you have questions or feedback so we can make these guides as useful as possible.