LOOSE LIPS SINK SHIPS
COUNTER-INTELLIGENCE OFFICERS CALLED THIS THREAT OUT IN WW2, CAUTIONING SAILORS IN FOREIGN PORTS TO ENSURE THEIR CASUAL CONVERSATIONS IN BARS WOULD NOT REVEAL IDENTITIES OF SHIPS, OFFICERS, MISSION, DESTINATION, EQUIPMENT, OR ANY INFORMATION WHICH MIGHT BE USEFUL TO EAVES-DROPPING FOREIGN AGENTS.
TODAY, THE OPSEC THREAT INCLUDES COMPUTERS, TEXT MESSAGING, PHYSICAL FITNESS WATCHES, OR VEHICULAR SAFETY COMPUTER AI MONITORS!
OPSEC: Operational Security, a counter-intelligence process and/or strategy that identifies seemingly innocuous actions that could inadvertently reveal critical or sensitive data to a cyber enemy.
In 2018, the fitness tracking app Strava became a major OPSEC scandal
Here’s the core of what happened:
What Was Exposed
 |
Strava released a public “Global Heat Map” |
The Straya Global Heat Map visualized billions of GPS identifiers
(GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM) illuminating exercise routes uploaded by users worldwide.
Soldiers and contractors deployed at remote US bases were using fitness trackers and smartwatches during runs, patrols, and physical training workouts.
These remote bases were In sparsely populated combat zones like:
* Afghanistan
* Syria
* Iraq
* Djibouti
The only visible activity on the GPS map usually came from US or coalition personnel.
This data allowed hostile Intelligence Analysts to:
1) Identify previously undisclosed bases
2) Map patrol routes
3) Estimate base size and staffing,
4) Observe daily movement patterns
5) (potentially) Identify high-value personnel
How It Was Discovered
Australian analyst/blogger Nathan Ruser publicly pointed out that isolated glowing tracks in conflict zones corresponded with military installations. Journalists quickly spread this analysis internationally.
Why It Was Dangerous
The issue was not merely “fitness data”
It became a targeting and intelligence problem!
Potential adversaries could:
1) Locate hidden or covert facilities
2) Determine guard/patrol routines
3) Identify entrances and frequently used paths
4) Correlate movement patterns with operational schedules
5) Potentially identify individual soldiers or intelligence personnel.
Military Intelligence (MI) investigators quickly identified the threat, and the Pentagon immediately launched reviews of wearable devices and location-sharing practices.
It Expanded Beyond US Soldiers
Investigators later found similar vulnerabilities affecting:
1) Intelligence personnel
2) Secret Service agents
3) Nuclear submarine crews
4) Allied soldiers
5) French naval personnel,
6) European heads of state security teams.
Even in 2026, incidents are still occurring
 |
| Aircraft Carrier Charles De Gaulle |
1) A French aircraft carrier’s location was reportedly exposed by a sailor’s Strava activity.
2) More than 500 UK military personnel were reportedly identifiable through public fitness routes, making them potentially high-value targets for enemy weaponry.
The Broader Intelligence Concern
This became an early high-profile example of what intelligence agencies now call:
* “Open-Source Intelligence” (OSINT),
* “Commercially Available Information” (CAI),
* “Digital Exhaust.”
Even anonymized data can often be de-anonymized when combined with:
1) Geography
2) Timing
3) Social Media
4) Public Records
5) Repeated Behavioral Patterns
The Official Military Response
1) The US Department of Defense (now Department of War)
issued stricter guidance on geolocation-enabled devices.
2) Deployed personnel were instructed to disable GPS and social sharing.
3) Certain secure facilities restricted wearables entirely.
Useful Deep-Dive Sources for further reading
1) The Guardian investigation on Strava and military bases
2) WIRED analysis of the Strava heat map scandal
3) US Army.mil Pentagon response articles
4) Bellingcat analysis of Polar and military personnel exposure
5) Recent investigations into ongoing Strava military leaks (2026)
Notably, modern warfare increasingly uses commercially collected (OSINT)civilian data rather than classic espionage alone.
On a related topic, we did a “surveillance and privacy” comparison of all vehicles available for private, commercial, and Military purchase, rentals, and long term leases.
…. It’s shocking.
If I were @PeteHegseth at Department of War, I’d have a serious issue with all my federal and Military personnel and contractors driving RT-connected Cloud devices that are actively listening and recording in-vehicals (without accessible OPT-OUT options) cabin video and sending it to The Cloud and Third-Party providers!
The current AI functions can disable vehicle functionality.
[BMW, Mercedes Benz, and Genesis are the worst offenders.
The AI data collection in vehicles can enable DoXing Soldiers, ICE, Police, Political adversaries, and Secret Service, all of whom would be vulnerable to the monitoring and eavesdropping and covert surveillance embedded in their vehicle computer system.
Imagining the Worst Case Military scenarios, think in terms of a combat situation including all the military vehicles you'd find on, or supporting combat troops and equipment.
As easy as it is for a Nigerian hacker to hijack your bank account, think of a skilled potential adversary such as China (or Iran), hacking into RT-Connected devices on our equipment and support vehicles as they attempt to roar into combat or support positions, and the systems suddenly shut down - or become targets identified via Strava.
Even without a hacker, the computerized/AI monitoring systems can act independently of outside forces using features currently available to shut down your vehicle.
For example,
1) Breathalyzer: Driver just used mouthwash; system detects alcohol and shuts down
3) Retina Assessment: Driver is panicked from incoming artillery rounds; vehicle shuts down due to interpreted driver-panic mode
4) Speed control: Driver attempts to escape bombardment
- vehicle shuts down to avoid "excessive speed or erratic driving".
5) POTUS vehicle and supporting Secret Service vehicles under assassination attacks
AI shuts downed vehicles due to rapid/dangerous acceleration. The SS limo would have been disabled when President Reagan was being rushed to the GWU hospital
6) Kill Switches available to Law Enforcement to disable get-away cars
Ex-cops transfer these mechanisms to their own vehicles for fun and mischief.
[CIA has been accused of using these functions to create "accidents" to eliminate their targets, but those are just accusations, I'm sure[.
7) Audio monitors listen in on your conversation (or phone calls) to determine if you're
drunk or discussing criminal activity - transmits the conversation to the Cloud where
[These AI functions can also be used by bad actors to seize control of your vehicle and commit crimes, such as the murder of Congresswoman Jackie Walorski, whose vehicle (according to local police) inexplicably sped up to more than 100 mph, crossing the median, and crashing into an car going in the opposite direction.
[Walorski had been working on an expose' of Hollywood Human Trafficking with Anne Heche who was monitored racing at high speed to elude a car chasing her down; she died in an "ambulance en-route to the hospital. Oddly, the Hollywood Media ignored this story]]
AI will determine if you're a danger to society; reports you to police, your insurance companies, or it can take control of your vehicle's movements, to include shutting you down, or cause you to rapidly speed up..
These are the requirements on the books for all vehicles by 2027 (some new cars have these features now)
:
Driver Monitoring Systems
- Implementation Deadline: By 2027, all new passenger vehicles must be equipped with driver monitoring systems.
- Purpose: These systems are designed to detect impaired driving, which is a leading cause of traffic fatalities.
- Technology: The systems will monitor driver behavior using sensors and cameras, assessing factors like eye movement and steering patterns to identify impairment.
Automatic Emergency Braking
- Implementation Deadline: Automatic emergency braking (AEB) will become standard in all new passenger vehicles by 2029.
- Functionality: AEB systems will automatically apply brakes to prevent collisions with vehicles or pedestrians, significantly enhancing road safety.
As a footnote, I've been told the Department of Transportation has directed that all vehicles produced in 2026 will have these AI features. In addition, many cars will have one or more surveillance cameras to monitor driver functionality. In addition there will be hidden microphones to eavesdrop on your conversations, and transmit that data to the Cloud - to be analyzed by AI to determine if you are capable of driving your vehicle safely.
ED NOTE:
I was a consultant with the traffic management company which controlled a large segment of of traffic signaling in the US and internationally. We developed many of these AI "safety" features in accordance with the Department of Transportation.
