Traveling Abroad | TorchStone Global

Israeli Palestinian Conflict - TorchStone Global

Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: Preparing for a Global Protest Campaign

Threat Assessment, Traveling AbroadOctober 1, 2024

October 7, 2023 marks the one-year anniversary of Hamas’ attacks against Israel that triggered an Israeli military retaliation that continues today. Signs that the conflict could be spreading to include Hezbollah have stimulated pro-Palestine and pro-Israel activist groups around the world into action. TorchStone is tracking 30 planned protests around the world going into the…

Security Update: 2024 Olympic Games Paris, France

International, Traveling AbroadJuly 16, 2024

The 2024 Paris Olympic Games present a high-value target for a variety of threat actors seeking to undermine the event through actions ranging from disruptive protests, cyberattacks, and even physical attacks. While French authorities are planning to deploy tens of thousands of additional security personnel to protect the games, unwanted incidents are still very likely.

Keeping Executives Safe - TorchStone Global

Keeping Executives Safe During Protests

Corporate Security, Traveling AbroadApril 23, 2024

Implementing effective strategies to ensure safety of corporate executives who must attend possible protest situations is paramount. Tactics and measures that can be implemented to mitigate potential threats, protect executives, and maintain a secure environment are discussed. Cultivating a culture of awareness and preparedness within executive teams further strengthens their ability to respond calmly and…

Traveling Staying Safe - TorchStone Global

Traveling: Staying Safe on the Road

Traveling AbroadMay 9, 2023

Ground transportation can pose significant risks to travelers, with traffic accidents being one of the leading causes of death for both locals and foreigners abroad. Poor road conditions, lax regulations, and inadequate medical care in low and middle-income countries compound the risks. While hiring a trusted driver or driving service is the safest option, in…

Kidnappings Lions-Crocodiles - TorchStone Global

Of Kidnappings, Lions, and Crocodiles

Traveling AbroadOctober 29, 2021

400 Mawozo, a kidnapping ring in Haiti, has reportedly kidnapped hundreds of victims over the past few years. Their current victims, 17 expatriate missionaries, are currently being held for a ransom demand of $1 million per hostage. There is hope that they will be released unharmed once the ransom is paid, as 400 Mawozo has…

How To Protect Yourself from Fire While Traveling

Traveling AbroadJune 28, 2021

Fire is a killer. To be more specific, inhaling smoke created by fires causes most fire-related deaths. Globally, far more people die in fires than are killed in criminal or terrorist attacks. We have also seen terrorists and criminals use fire as a weapon to deadly effect. Whether the result of an accidental or natural…

Understanding and Responding to Risk

Corporate Security, Traveling AbroadMarch 22, 2021

Everything an organization does or does not do brings a risk. It is impossible, and one should not try, to avoid every potential risk. Instead, when senior leadership embraces the concept that risk is unavoidable and clearly delineates a risk policy, it provides every stakeholder with a single point of reference to gauge and manage…

The Benefits of Living Gray – Part One: Travel

Corporate Security, Traveling AbroadNovember 20, 2020

The term being gray means fitting into the environment so that an observer does not see you as anomalous. The phrase infers things such as avoiding wearing bright clothing or other items that might draw attention to you, but it also applies to affecting behavior and demeanor that permit you to fit into the…

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…