My name is Michael Westen. I used to be a spy until...

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Burn Notice - Season 04 - Episode 05 Spy Tips & Tactics

Burn Notice Season 04 Episode 05 "Neighborhood Watch" was first aired last July 1, 2010 and below are the spy tips and tactics:

* Spies are used to battling cutting-edge encryption and billion-dollar security. But sometimes the toughest challenge is cracking something old and out-of-date. If you find yourself up against an obsolete tape drive loaded with arcane software, you can either find yourself a time machine or admit defeat.


* Spies always assume they're being followed. It could mean nothing that a route is blocked forcing everyone to leave the building through one exit. But when that exit is in view of a driver who's been sitting in a parked car since you walked in, that starts to mean something.

* Being hunted isn't always a bad thing. When someone is on your tail, you can pick the route. And if you're really good, you can lead them into a trap of your own.

* If you've ever accidentally set off an alarm at a clothing store, you know how radio frequency tags work. Spies use lightweight RFID trackers too. But instead of catching shoplifters they're able to tail their targets more effectively.

* Bounce radio waves off an RFID tracker with a modified digital depth finder and you can keep tabs on whatever you like without having to get too close.

* Working in the field often demands making tough decisions. But if you have to choose between letting someone get killed or getting beat up as a distraction, you pick the bruised ribs everytime. Nothing distracts someone like rage. Although getting someone really angry can be risky.

* Spies spend so much time thinking through operations from every angle that occasionally they get too clever for their own good. Sometimes you're better off keeping things simple. If a drug dealer is looking to get rich, there's no better approach than offering him a great deal on drugs.

* Mass quantities of illegal drugs can be hard to get your hands on. But it's even harder to come by drugs regulated by the government: manufactured, distributed, and sold under lock and key. Even drug dealers recognize their value.

* Cops use checkpoints to catch drunk drivers. Drug dealers use them to catch people who don't belong in their neighborhood.

* Making a getaway is often more about precise handling than raw horsepower. So, in a hostile situation, rear-wheel drive is a nice advantage. That said, it doesn't hurt to have over 300 horsepower at your fingertips.

* Aerial recon is invaluable in modern warfare if you need to scope out a place that's too dangerous to visit on foot. Using a homemade drone is almost as good as rerouting a spy satellite. Outfit a remote-controlled plane with an infrared camera and you can get a good look at your target from above. Install an engine cutoff switch, and no one will even hear you coming.

* Sending someone untrained into a combat situation is like dropping your kid off on his first day of school. You give as much advice as you can, you watch from a distance, and you cross your fingers that he comes back in one piece.

* It's never a nice surprise when someone pulls out a concealed blade. But there's an upside to getting a look at their weapon. If they're using a Japanese Tanto knife, they'd rather stab you than slice you. And you can use that to your advantage.

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