Vault7: CIA Hacking Tools Revealed
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Owner: User #524297
EDG Familiarization TDY
Before You Go...
- Talk to CCIE/Engineering about your planned TDYTemporary Duty (Temporary relocation) timeline. Consider US/German holidays, current Base activities, USGUS Government shutdowns, world events, etc.
- CCIE can provide you with a list of hotels that you can choose from for your TDY. Try not to stray from this list; these hotels are pre-approved by Frankfurt Base.
- Write your own cable requesting TDYTemporary Duty (Temporary relocation) concurrence. Seriously, if you have never written a cable in your entire career, do it yourself. Learn to write a cable: believe it or not, it's a handy skill.
- Learn/create your cover-for-action story. There will be a slight difference based on your own cover status. Talk to CCIE/Engineering.
- Have your Point-of-Contact information on your person. There will be a slight difference based on your own cover status. Talk to CCIE/Engineering.
- Have a travel credit card. You will need the PINPersonal Identification Number to get a cash advance. Advance and conversion fees are accountable on your TDYTemporary Duty (Temporary relocation) voucher. Government Travel Cards work great for this (built-in accounting).
- If you are using a personal credit card, be sure to call your credit card company and notify them of your travel to Germany.
During Your Flight...
- Flying Lufthansa: Booze is free so enjoy (within reason)! Flying United: My condolences, but at least you are earning a United leg towards a status increase.
- If you have an overnight flight (most likely), try and get some sleep. It will help you adjust faster to the time difference. (6-7 hours ahead!)
When You Arrive...
- Breeze through German Customs because you have your cover-for-action story down pat, and all they did was stamp your passport.
- Get some Euros from a DeutscheBank ATM (not a Travellex machine... not the same thing). (You remembered your credit card w/ its PIN, right?)
- Get a cab to your hotel from the airport.
- Check in, drop off your bags, shower (you probably need one).
- Do not leave anything electronic or sensitive unattended in your hotel room. (Paranoid, yes, but better safe then sorry.)
- If you arrive on a Sunday morning... expect to find most businesses (grocery stores especially) are closed. Some restaurants may be open. Gas stations are not recommended for fine dining.
- If you arrive on a Monday morning... expect that they might not have a room ready for you at your hotel. Get checked in, decompress, then head into the Consulate.
First Day...
- Bring all personal or work electronic devices with you to the Consulate. There is a holding area outside of the SCIFSensitive Compartmented Information FacilityS for personal electronics.
Depending on where you are staying in the city, you might have to take the U-Bahn (subway) to the Consulate. Find the U5 towards Preungesheim. The Consulate is at the stop Gießener Straße (phonetically: "Gee-ssen-err Shtrah-sseh")
- You should buy a ticket for public transport that is good for a long period of time, either a week or a month. (3 week tickets is cheaper than a month)
- From the Gießener Straße stop, walk south towards the Consulate.
- Enter at CAC4 (the big entrance)
- Present your Black passport if that's all you have, and you will get a yellow vistor's badge. You can trade this for a blue visitor badge at Post 1.
- Present your white State ID if you have one. You will be buzzed right through the doors.
- Follow the signs for the "Employee Entrance", walking alongside the Consulate building on the left side. Show your badge (yellow or white), and you will be buzzed into the Consulate.
- Follow the signs for Post 1. You will know you're in the right place when a large heavy door closes behind you, and you realize you are trapped in a large room with a Marine behind a glass window.
- If you have a yellow badge, ask the Marine to give you a blue visitor badge.
- Use the phone at Post 1 to call your POC. You can just dial the last four numbers since it is the extension.
During Your TDY...
- Meet everyone at Base, including other TDYers. Talk to them and find out about what they do. Build that network!
- If you have never been overseas before (for work or at all), let folks know.
- Have a free weekend? Ask for advice on day trips and places to visit.
Setting Expectations...
- Be flexible with Base needs and operational tempo. Help out wherever/whenever you can. "Duties as assigned."
- Be aware that your coworkers here are all under cover. While cover seems like an administrative thing back home, it is vital in the Field.
- Help protect everyone's cover. Avoid using terms outside of the SCIFSensitive Compartmented Information FacilityS that could betray that people are not "State Department" employees.
- Respect that while efforts can be made to involve you in activities, it may not always be possible because of cover concerns.
Before You Leave...
- Work with CCIE/Engineering to draft a TDYTemporary Duty (Temporary relocation) Wrap-up cable. Cable traffic or it didn't happen.
- Buy something in Duty Free, because you're awesome and you deserve it! (Might I recommend a travellers' edition single malt whisky?)
- Leave with as few Euros in your pocket as possible. Current record is held by User #524297 at 0.52 € !
TDY Differences based on Your Cover for Status
| If you are OVERT CIA... | If you are COVERT Nominal State... | |
|---|---|---|
| Your Cover-for-Action (for this trip) | State Department employee | State Department employee |
| Your Point of Contact's Actual Job | Frankfurt Base Officer or Declared CCIECenter for Cyber Intelligence/Europe TIO | CCIE/Engineering |
| Your Point of Contact's Cover Office | Political/Military (POL/MIL) | Regional Information Management Center/Frankfurt Support Center (RIMC/FSC) |
|
Your Cover Story (for this trip) Q: "Why are you here?" |
A: "Supporting technical consultations at the Consulate." Q: "What part of the Consulate?" A:"POL/MIL" |
A; "Supporting technical consultations at the Consulate." Q: "What part of the Consulate?" A: "RIMC" |