pages/txt/ig-opsec (view raw)
1---
2date: '2019-12-02'
3subtitle: Operational security for the average zoomer
4title: Instagram OPSEC
5url: 'ig-opsec'
6---
7
8Which I am not, of course. But seeing as most of my peers are, I am
9compelled to write this post. Using a social platform like Instagram
10automatically implies that the user understands (to some level) that
11their personally identifiable information is exposed publicly, and they
12sign up for the service understanding this risk---or I think they do,
13anyway. But that's about it, they go ham after that. Sharing every nitty
14gritty detail of their private lives without understanding the potential
15risks of doing so.
16
17The fundamentals of OPSEC dictacte that you develop a threat model, and
18Instgrammers are *obviously* incapable of doing that---so I'll do it for
19them.
20
21Your average Instagrammer's threat model
22----------------------------------------
23
24I stress on the word "average", as in this doesn't apply to those with
25more than a couple thousand followers. Those type of accounts inherently
26face different kinds of threats---those that come with having a
27celebrity status, and are not in scope of this analysis.
28
29- **State actors**: This doesn't *really* fit into our threat model,
30 since our target demographic is simply not important enough. That
31 said, there are select groups of individuals that operate on
32 Instagram[^1], and they can potentially be targetted by a state
33 actor.
34
35```{=html}
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38- **OSINT**: This is probably the biggest threat vector, simply
39 because of the amount of visual information shared on the platform.
40 A lot can be gleaned from one simple picture in a nondescript
41 alleyway. We'll get into this in the DOs and DON'Ts in a bit.
42
43- **Facebook & LE**: Instagram is the last place you want to be doing
44 an illegal, because well, it's logged and more importantly---not
45 end-to-end encrypted. Law enforcement can subpoena any and all
46 account information. Quoting Instagram's [page on
47 this](https://help.instagram.com/494561080557017):
48
49> a search warrant issued under the procedures described in the Federal
50> Rules of Criminal Procedure or equivalent state warrant procedures
51> upon a showing of probable cause is required to compel the disclosure
52> of the stored contents of any account, which may include messages,
53> photos, comments, and location information.
54
55That out of the way, here's a list of DOs and DON'Ts to keep in mind
56while posting on Instagram.
57
58### DON'Ts
59
60- Use Instagram for planning and orchestrating illegal shit! I've
61 explained why this is a terrible idea above. Use secure comms---even
62 WhatsApp is a better choice, if you have nothing else. In fact, try
63 avoiding IG DMs altogether, use alternatives that implement E2EE.
64
65- Film live videos outside. Or try not to, if you can. You might
66 unknowingly include information about your location: street signs,
67 shops etc. These can be used to ascertain your current location.
68
69- Film live videos in places you visit often. This compromises your
70 security at places you're bound to be at.
71
72- Share your flight ticket in your story! I can't stress this
73 enough!!! Summer/winter break? "Look guys, I'm going home! Here's
74 where I live, and here's my flight number---feel free to track me!".
75 This scenario is especially worrisome because the start and end
76 points are known to the threat actor, and your arrival time can be
77 trivially looked up---thanks to the flight number on your ticket.
78 So, just don't.
79
80- Post screenshots with OS specific details. This might border on
81 pendantic, but better safe than sorry. Your phone's statusbar and
82 navbar are better cropped out of pictures. They reveal the time,
83 notifications (apps that you use), and can be used to identify your
84 phone's operating system. Besides, the status/nav bar isn't very
85 useful to your screenshot anyway.
86
87- Share your voice. In general, reduce your footprint on the platform
88 that can be used to identify you elsewhere.
89
90- Think you're safe if your account is set to private. It doesn't take
91 much to get someone who follows you, to show show your profile on
92 their device.
93
94### DOs
95
96- Post pictures that pertain to a specific location, once you've moved
97 out of the location. Also applies to stories. It can wait.
98
99- Post pictures that have been shot indoors. Or try to; reasons above.
100 Who woulda thunk I'd advocate bathroom selfies?
101
102- Delete old posts that are irrelevant to your current audience. Your
103 friends at work don't need to know about where you went to high
104 school.
105
106More DON'Ts than DOs, that's very telling. Here are a few more points
107that are good OPSEC practices in general:
108
109- **Think before you share**. Does it conform to the rules mentioned
110 above?
111- **Compartmentalize**. Separate as much as you can from what you
112 share online, from what you do IRL. Limit information exposure.
113- **Assess your risks**: Do this often. People change, your
114 environments change, and consequentially the risks do too.
115
116Fin
117---
118
119Instagram is---much to my dismay---far too popular for it to die any
120time soon. There are plenty of good reasons to stop using the platform
121altogether (hint: Facebook), but that's a discussion for another day.
122
123Or be like me:
124
125![0 posts lul](/static/img/ig.jpg)
126
127And that pretty much wraps it up, with a neat little bow.
128
129[^1]: https://darknetdiaries.com/episode/51/---Jack talks about Indian
130 hackers who operate on Instagram.