The post- 9/11 security scenario is one that has given birth to a whole new paradigm of vulnerability and risk analysis. A world with an entirely different set of values and priorities in regards to our understanding of risks and threats and one that involves developing a completely new set of guidelines, goals and objectives in order to protect ourselves from terror attacks and threats. This paper attempts to look at a few of the vulnerabilities that an individual possesses and which target hardening methods might be used to offset those vulnerabilities in order to offset the very real threat of attacks.
Vulnerabilities:
- Data accessibility: As an individual who may be having a reasonable online presence, there are various key details that are readily available over the internet, such as: Residential contact information etc. This makes it easy for someone to mount an attack on me.
- Ease of access: The various ways in which globalization has changed the world is to provide readily available transport wide spread and accessible, this allows attackers multiple convergence points and access routes to me unchecked and unrestricted.
- Methods of harm: Where once attacks were limited to conventional means such as use of firearms, knives etc. the inclusion of non-conventional methods such as biological and chemical methods seriously skews the equation against me.
Target Hardening: this involves a two-fold approach of securing information as well as physical access to me. Steps such as masking my address details along with strengthening my security infrastructure with the use of bullet proof glass, bollards, metal doors etc would prevent immediate safety from attacks. Preventative measures such as gas masks and chemical and biological reactants would also significantly aid in target hardening.
