A covert house search is a discreet search of a residence conducted by an adversary when the occupants are not present.
An adversary can conduct a covert house search to:
- Gather information.
- Install covert surveillance devices in the residence.
- Install malware on digital devices.
Generally, when an adversary conducts a covert house search of a residence, they do not want the occupants to know that the operation has taken place. Therefore, in general:
- If the residence has locked doors, the adversary must bypass the doors without visibly breaking them. They can do this by picking the locks or asking the building owner for the keys.
- The adversary refrains from seizing items or moving things.
In addition to searching the residence, the adversary can covertly seize garbage from outside the residence in the hope of finding valuable information (e.g., written notes, forensics evidence such as DNA traces).
Used in tactics: Incrimination
Mitigations
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Clandestinity | If you enter clandestinity, an adversary cannot know where you live, and therefore cannot conduct a covert house search of your home. |
| Physical intrusion detection | You can use physical intrusion detection to detect a covert house search. |
| Preparing for house raids | You can prepare for a covert house search by minimizing the presence of materials that could be harmful in the event of a search. |
| Stash spot or safe house | You can keep action materials that have no “legitimate” purpose in a stash spot or safe house, or at worst, let them pass through your home only for a very limited time. |