In this episode, I speak to Ami Toben, a veteran of the Israeli Defense Forces, and director of consulting and training for HighCom Security Services, an elite private security firm based in the Oakland/San Franscisco Bay Area. Ami writes extensively about security-related issues on his blog, with a particular emphasis on surveillance/counter-surveillance and counter-terrorism. Although much of Ami's work is geared towards professional security officers, I asked him to connect the dots between the concepts - many of them developed in Israel - that his firm uses in support of their clients, and the efforts of normal civilians to stay safe in their daily lives. Ami delivered a tremendous amount of very useful, eye-opening information that will be of interest to anyone looking for greater control of their personal security. Topics Discussed • Mechanics of preventive security. • Responding to hostile planning vs. hostile action. • How to conduct preventive security that catches bad guys without offending good guys. • What scares a suicide bomber who isn't afraid to die. • Why nosy neighbors keep communities safe. • The principles of the Inner Circle and Outer Circle. • How Israeli airport security screening focuses on motivations rather than objects. • The value of irrelevant questions in determining hostile intention. • Analyzing behavior vs. appearance. • What "chosen appearance" can tell you about a person. • Interplay of martial arts and self-defense training. • How the "warrior mentality" of military and law enforcement is misunderstood by civilians. • The factors that criminals look for in a target. • How to be the worst target for a criminal. • The difference between verbal compliance and verbal management of aggressive behavior. • Why civilians should understand basic concepts of surveillance.