GhostNet 1.5, page 9

9 Architecture of Privacy Operational Security (OPSEC) is of great concern to those wishing to establish communications networks in non-permissive environments. However, if maximum OPSEC procedures were to be followed 24/7, no one would ever communicate at all. Therefore a careful balance must be struck, allowing for some com- munications to be completely public (for the masses to consume), while other communications methods are only shared with trusted users, or those who have a vested interest in a local area (semi-trusted entities). Trust is a finite resource, and once it’s gone, it’s very difficult to obtain again. Why does this matter for communications? - You need to exchange information and communicate with people, but powerful entities have invested significantly in making that difficult. You want to find like minded people, but you need to communicate to do that, and all internet based comms are surveilled. You need to organize, but the moment you get too popular, you meet Icarus’s fate. Everything is a balance between keeping your head down, and flying too close to the sun (so to speak). GhostNet should enable everyone to participate at their own pace (and risk level), allowing people to assume an appropriate level of risk in order to make progress, but also not take on so much risk that safety is compromised. GhostNet should allow people to ride the line between doing nothing, and risking it all. - You may have friends or family that know your cell phone number, but you wouldn’t give out that cell phone number to just anyone. On the other hand, you may program in national calling freqs into your handheld radio, with the full intention of maybe having to talk to strangers during an emergency. There are many layers of communication between these two examples, and many ways of building networks on varying levels of trust. Modular Privacy With Operational Security (OPSEC) being a very important consideration, GhostNet comms can fit into any local or private communications plan. If you need to make contact with trusted contacts, or even people you don’t know (but have a shared interest, such as for community defense), GhostNet hopes to enable this. On a more strategic level, GhostNet can fill a need for strategic communications, where no pre-organized solution is available. If an entity doesn’t wish to use GhostNet, anyone can duplicate the idea fairly easily, and tailor a plan to their own needs. Communications cannot be established after a disaster, only before....but most people still will not plan for this. So even if a group of prepared citizens wants to create their own plan, GhostNet can temporarily serve as something, where nothing currently exists. *Radio based communications can require a license, depending on the situation. For daily use in a questionably-permissive environment (such as the reagular ham radio hobby), a license would be required. However, in an apocalyptic-level emergency where users are no longer concerned with regulations, many radio modes can technically be used regardless of callsign. This means that privacy, while non-existent under normal ham radio operating conditions, is extremely feasible in the event of an emergency.