Loose Lips Sink Ships

[Mr. Security]

How many of you have been approached by "friendly" employees at the client site who try to strike up a conversation in hopes of getting some information out of you about another officer, your supervisor, a fellow employee, or the client?

If so, how do you handle it?

[ozsecuritychic]

i was asked by the centre manager about things she had heard over the radios that she has one of to get either security or the cleaners.i politely said i wasnt allowed to discuss it with her.when she was discussing it with the supervisors she mentioned that everytime i have to call a cleaner for something they give me attitude.my supervisor took it that it had come from me and got the owner of the company to speak to me about confidentiality.

[Mr. Security]

i was asked by the centre manager about things she had heard over the radios that she has one of to get either security or the cleaners.i politely said i wasnt allowed to discuss it with her.when she was discussing it with the supervisors she mentioned that everytime i have to call a cleaner for something they give me attitude.my supervisor took it that it had come from me and got the owner of the company to speak to me about confidentiality.

Sometimes you just can't win no matter what you do. I tried to report a telephone problem to my security company and this is the response I received: "We don't appreciate you people in the field micromanaging us by telling us how to do our job."

It doesn't get much more condescending than that. Like 1st Watch said, we're just 'peons.'

[The Lord of the Keys]

With us its usually questions about layoffs or building closings. This week we had a major incident with a suspected armed individual in one of our buildings it lead to evacuating over 1,000 employees from 2 of our buildings. While it was going on people were hearing a bunch of rumors and tried to get information from us or confirmation of the rumors that were spreading. I would just say,"I'm not able to confirm or deny anything".

[Mr. Security]

With us its usually questions about layoffs or building closings. This week we had a major incident with a suspected armed individual in one of our buildings it lead to evacuating over 1,000 employees from 2 of our buildings. While it was going on people were hearing a bunch of rumors and tried to get information from us or confirmation of the rumors that were spreading. I would just say,"I'm not able to confirm or deny anything".

Take some time to watch how the White House Press Secretary answers the questions from reporters who are determined to 'get the scoop.' It's a real lesson in double talk and evasive or vague answers. It works.

[Mr. Security]

With us its usually questions about layoffs or building closings.......

For us, it's questions about when we do our tours, how many guards and so forth. They want to figure out when it's 'safe' to violate company policy about smoking, wearing PPE, and even taking naps. I've learned to just say: "Have a nice day" and keep walking when they ask those kinds of questions.

[N. A. Corbier]

I have a more heavy handed approach to such questions. Those persons and their line of questioning are reported to the client and the supervision of the contract service. Why, you may ask? Because this may be your next workplace violence candiate, or internal theft issue, or worse -- a terrorist.

Direct or indirect questioning about the security of a facility is a possible threat to the security of the facility. It shows interest in the internal, non-public, operations of the facility in regards to security. It could be the guy asking so that he can pilfer some coffee mugs. Or it could be so they can smoke in the hallway. It could also be so that they know how long they have to steal every laptop in the IT department before the guard comes. Or, it could be so they know how many guards to take out, what level of resistance they'll encounter, and what paths they can set up ambush points at.

Some may think this is paranoia. But, this is exactly what they're teaching us all in states that have Terrorism Awareness courses. Be polite. Be professional. Trust no one. Be prepared to defend from violent assualt from everyone. Over the ideals of the American People, or over a laptop computer.

[Bill Warnock]

I have a more heavy handed approach to such questions. Those persons and their line of questioning are reported to the client and the supervision of the contract service. Why, you may ask? Because this may be your next workplace violence candiate, or internal theft issue, or worse -- a terrorist.

Direct or indirect questioning about the security of a facility is a possible threat to the security of the facility. It shows interest in the internal, non-public, operations of the facility in regards to security. It could be the guy asking so that he can pilfer some coffee mugs. Or it could be so they can smoke in the hallway. It could also be so that they know how long they have to steal every laptop in the IT department before the guard comes. Or, it could be so they know how many guards to take out, what level of resistance they'll encounter, and what paths they can set up ambush points at.

Some may think this is paranoia. But, this is exactly what they're teaching us all in states that have Terrorism Awareness courses. Be polite. Be professional. Trust no one. Be prepared to defend from violent assualt from everyone. Over the ideals of the American People, or over a laptop computer.

Nathan, even paranoids have enemies.
How does one get insider information, simply ask for it. Information security is so often talked about but so seldom practiced. Human intelligence is the best source for the bad guys. Watchful waiting is the second best source.
As usual, thank you for those insights.
Enjoy the day,
Bill

[Mr. Security]

Nathan, even paranoids have enemies.
How does one get insider information, simply ask for it. Information security is so often talked about but so seldom practiced. Human intelligence is the best source for the bad guys. Watchful waiting is the second best source.
As usual, thank you for those insights.
Enjoy the day,
Bill

Your post reminds me of an incident where a group of death row inmates decided to break out of prison. (Can't remember if it was VA or not.) At any rate, they started the process by asking the various guards on all three shifts questions that appeared to be innocent, but in reality were designed to reveal different pieces of information that when put together gave the inmates insight into weaknesses that the system had. By doing so, they eventually exploited the weaknesses and successfully escaped. The warden and the guard captain had a lot of explaining to do after that.

[Bill Warnock]

Your post reminds me of an incident where a group of death row inmates decided to break out of prison. (Can't remember if it was VA or not.) At any rate, they started the process by asking the various guards on all three shifts questions that appeared to be innocent, but in reality were designed to reveal different pieces of information that when put together gave the inmates insight into weaknesses that the system had. By doing so, they eventually exploited the weaknesses and successfully escaped. The warden and the guard captain had a lot of explaining to do after that.

Mr. Security:
The prison was in Virginia and the story was featured on both American Justice and Court TV. They stole a truck. Some headed for the Canadian border the others headed for Philadelphia. All were eventually caught. One almost made to Canada but got confused by the road signs. North and opposed to West. He headed West. He was less than five miles from the border.
P.S. Let me know what you think of the latest revisions.
Enjoy the day,
Bill

[N. A. Corbier]

RE: Revisions. Almost 400 pages. Its gonna take me a few days to read it all. How you coming, Mr. Security?

[Mr. Security]

RE: Revisions. Almost 400 pages. Its gonna take me a few days to read it all. How you coming, Mr. Security?

My printer ended up in the ICU after it finished printing the revision. The hardware technician said something about Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome.

Just kidding Bill.

[Blame_The_Guard]

.............Some may think this is paranoia.

A little more paranoia and a little less complacency would do us all some good.

John the Gateboy

[ACP01]

Also SO doing the Barney Fife brag...

Oh yeah, they trust just me to carry $100,000 to the local office.

Yep, I got all the keys. Carry them right here.

You get the idea.

I like the "can neither confirm nor deny" response.
That is what is used by the military for questions about sensitive waepons.
"I can neither confirm nor deny the presence of ******* weapons...."
Then it is reported to the Security Officer for that site.

[Mr. Security]

The challenge that I see with this issue of confidentiality is trying to be helpful and friendly with the client's employees but not revealing more than we should. We want to maintain good relations with those working for the client so that the client receives positive feedback regarding our service and people skills. Also, there are times when an employee will reveal important information regarding the account that the client might not. As they say: "to get a little; you have to give a little."