I wanted to begin a new month on a more relaxed note, with a breakdown of my latest geolocation challenge, but instead I’d like to send out this message:
Please minimize risk before you publicly post information about the war against Ukraine **BUT ALSO** don’t fall into Russia’s trap of staying silent.
Please tell your friends to think about this dilemma too.
Russians may be crap on the battlefield, but Russian nerds are not so crap at all, and you don’t want to be exposing any potential targets.
Some good rules of thumb: When in doubt, blur faces and patches. Remember that almost anything can be geolocated with enough dedication, so ask yourself, “Would a Russian want to geolocate this?” Try to not post in real time if you can help it. Zoom in on background details to determine if they give anything important away.
I feel like with Afghanistan, people fell for he idea that the Taliban are “too backwards to be savvy online.” Now some of us are falling into the trap of, “But if the Russians are suffering heavy losses, it means they’re not watching social media.” They are. Social media is easy for them! Just look at what a spectacle murderous clown Ramzan Kadyrov creates online!
“But Natalia,” you’re going to say. “YOU post pictures from Ukraine all of the time.”
Of course! But — I do that after they’ve been fed to me and/or my friends by reputable sources on the ground, with their ample blessing.
I don’t expose potential high value targets. A bombed out building can be shown as an example of Russian brutality in Ukraine. A nice, shiny Ukrainian barracks? Not a good idea to post that right now!
“Sounds like we shouldn’t post anything ever!”
No. That’s what Russia wants. It wants everyone scared and it wants this war to fade out of view.
The trick is just to be smart. Stop and think.
Here’s an example of a great photo that’s safe to share:
Look at Ol’ Four Eyes. Isn’t he badass? Very nice hands too. Just the poetry of good hands and a weapon is visually appealing and will strike fear into the hearts of enemies (and make enemies’ girlfriends reconsider their relationships).
Nothing pictured in the photo is a state secret, and the location is not currently identifiable. Post away!
And if you have doubt about a photo, you can go ahead and ask someone. It’s not hard, and it usually doesn’t take long. I do it all the time, and if a perpetually harassed single mother like me can do it — so can you!
Please stay with me, please consider a paid subscription as I very much would like to eat this month, and glory to Ukraine! 💛💙
Hi Natalia, thanks for the content and more importantly for being courageous and inspiring others (like me)! I am a paid subscriber and am wondering if you are available to be a guest at an online forum of national security scholars. Unfortunately, we cannot offer an honorarium, but you may pick up a few subscribers. If you are so interested, please email me, jenomberta@gmail.com and we can discuss more, thanks!
Glory to Ukraine!
Best regards,
Jeno