Burn Notice - Season 01 - Finale Spy Tips and Tactics

Burn Notice Season 01 Finale is composed of two (2) episodes "Dead Drop" and "Loose Ends" was first aired last September 20, 2007 and below are the spy tips and tactics:

* The first step in dealing with a covert op is establishing a way to communicate privately, a code. Could be a key-encrypted cipher. But, really all you need is a base of knowledge that you share.

* The truly paranoid don't go to meetings themselves. They use a cutout -someone unrelated to them hired to show a prearranged sign and deliver a message. The sign is something innocuous but hard to miss.

* If you want to bug a cell phone wirelessly you'll need a lot of specialized scanning equipment and a computer to deal with the encryption. I prefer a hands-on approach. You just bug a duplicate phone and swap out the SIM card so the new phone has the same number. Your target will talk all day certain that no one could possibly be listening.

* Having a gun to your head is all about timing finding the right moment to make your move. Best to snap the trigger finger first. After that, it's mostly downhill.

* Whether you're protecting a client or monitoring electronic surveillance you've got to be patient. In the real world, covert ops doesn't involve many car chases or gunfights. Mostly it's just hurry up and wait. Not too exciting. But you wait and you watch and you stay alert because, at any minute, the job can get way too exciting.

* It's always tough to reschedule a covert meeting. You can't exactly leave a note. So you have to leave behind just enough to get them where you want them to go.

* There are two basic ways to blow up a car. Use the gasoline in the tank, or provide your own explosive. They're two techniques that use opposite ends of the car and are disarmed differently. Some people prefer the gas tank. Tends to look more like an accident but it's less reliable. Others prefer plastic explosive on the battery, wired to the ignition.

* When you're communicating in code sometimes you just have to hope that whoever you're talking to is smart enough to figure out what you're saying. Use a code that's too simple, and it will get broken. Use a code that's too complex and you're just talking to yourself.

* In any operation, communicating silently is often essential. Chalk marks, an unusual arrangement of objects -anything that stands out from the background will do. Like a piece of cloth on a window.

* A warehouse door is going to be reinforced but the walls aren't. And the areas under the windows don't have load-bearing beams.

* A good trap doesn't scare people, it makes them curious. A speeding truck makes people scatter. A slow-moving truck, on the other hand makes people want to take a closer look.

* For any operative, stashing weapons is second nature after a while. Spies hide guns like squirrels hide acorns. You never know when you'll need some firepower or where you'll be when you need it.

* Choosing a cover I.D. on the fly is always a challenge. When there's no time to think it's best to go with something simple that keeps your options open.

* Freon is available at most computer stores. Buy a can of screen duster, turn it upside down, and you've got it in liquid form. It's cold enough to crystallize the metal in many commercial locks. A hammer can take care of the rest.

* One advantage of working with the same team is that secure communication is simpler. You don't have to work out a secret code. If you have enough history, the code is in every picture, every memento, every autographed leg cast.

* Surveillance is a two-way street. If you know someone's looking for you, you've got an advantage. They follow your lead, go where they think you are.

* Who drives armored cars? People who expect gunfire. Usually people
with some firepower of their own.

* In a hostage situation, you have to be cruel to be kind. The more you care, the more leverage they have. Like buying a car -you have to make them think you can walk away.

* There are some fights you just can't win. A force can be so overwhelming that no tactical approach in a fight is going to lead to a victory worth having.

* When you can't win in a fight sometimes you have to settle for making sure that if you lose, everyone loses. It works for nuclear weapons, it works for me.

* The sticky bomb was originally developed in World War II for mining tanks. For the homemade variety, tile adhesive works best. Sticky, waterproof, and it comes in an easily portable plastic bucket.

* A lot of people think the word "commando" means superhero or at least something close to it. In the popular mind, they're thought of as the ultimate elite soldier, the solution to every problem. The fact is, a commando is just someone trained to fight under a specific set of circumstances. He's the guy you send in when there are more bad guys than good guys, when surprise is the only advantage you can get in an operation. When it works, commandos seem unstoppable. Those are the operations that make the papers. When it doesn't work, commandos get killed just as dead as anyone else.

* When you work in intelligence, you get used to the idea that some information is worth risking everything for. You sign up for the lifestyle, or the chance to serve your country, or the millions of frequent flyer miles. But, finally, it all comes down to putting your ass on the line to learn something.