Protective Intelligence | TorchStone Global

Understanding Kidnapping Threats - TorchStone Global

Kidnapping Part 1: Understanding Kidnapping Threats

Protective IntelligenceNovember 1, 2022

Kidnapping is a global phenomenon and one that has many motivations. In this first installment, I discuss the different types of kidnappings in general and how motivations and locations can affect risk. Subsequent pieces will delve into a specific type of kidnapping and focus on ways to prevent or mitigate them.

Extinction Rebellion - TorchStone Global

The Need for Nuance in Protective Intelligence Part 4: Extinction Rebellion

Protective IntelligenceJanuary 18, 2022

Since its inception in the UK in October of 2018, XR has become one of the fastest-growing protest campaigns in the world. As of January 2022, the campaign claims to have enlisted 1199 local groups in 86 countries and has launched disruptive protests in a number of countries. Perhaps their most notable protest was the…

Khorasan Attack U.S. - TorchStone Global

Will Islamic State Khorasan Attack the U.S. Homeland in Six Months?

Protective IntelligenceNovember 5, 2021

Headlines generated by Colin Kahl’s testimony give the Islamic State Khorasan Province’s attack capabilities of the United States more credence than has perhaps been demonstrated. While ISK has shown itself to be a capable insurgent force and conduct terrorist attacks within Afghanistan, striking against the U.S. directly is quite another matter. It may not be…

Lessons From a Nuclear Spy Case

Protective IntelligenceOctober 22, 2021

Jonathan Toebbe was an “entrepreneurial” or self-initiated spy motivated by money. He was not targeted and recruited as an agent by the foreign intelligence agency. Instead, he decided himself that he wanted to become a spy, which country he wanted to spy for, and how much he demanded as compensation for his espionage. He approached…

The Need for Nuance in Protective Intelligence Part 3: The Boogaloo Movement

Corporate Security, Protective Intelligence, Traveling AbroadJune 27, 2020

This is the third installment of a series of articles intended to help protective intelligence and security practitioners gain a nuanced understanding of threat actors. I believe that a detailed understanding of a threat actor’s ideology, objectives, operational model and tactics is critical for security managers to develop strategies to both proactively uncover a potential…

The Need for Nuance in Protective Intelligence Part 2: Antifa Movement

Protective IntelligenceJune 14, 2020

This is the second installment of a series of articles that will help protective intelligence and security practitioners gain a nuanced understanding of threat actors. I believe that a detailed understanding of a threat actor’s ideology, objectives, operational model and tactics is critical for security managers to develop strategies to both proactively uncover a potential…

The Need for Nuance in Protective Intelligence Part 1: Understanding the Islamic State Threat

Protective IntelligenceJune 14, 2020

If protective intelligence and corporate security teams are going to be effective in their efforts to protect people, facilities, and intellectual property, they must first possess a solid understanding of the threat actors they are working to counter. This includes an analysis of the threat actors’ ideology, their objectives, the operational model they employ and…