Cross-posted from: https://lemmy.zip/post/18686329 (the first OPSEC community on Lemmy, feel free to join us)

Guide to Determining Your Threat Model

Creating a solid threat model is an essential step in improving your operations security (OPSEC). It helps you identify potential threats, assess their impact, and prioritize your defenses. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you develop your own threat model.


1. Define Your Assets

First, list the things you want to protect. These might include:

  • Personal Information: Name, address, phone number, Social Security number, etc.
  • Financial Information: Bank account details, credit card numbers, financial records.
  • Digital Assets: Emails, social media accounts, documents, photos.
  • Physical Assets: Home, devices (computers, smartphones, etc.).

2. Identify Potential Threats

Next, think about who or what could pose a threat to your assets. Possible threats include:

  • Hackers: Individuals or groups looking to steal data or money.
  • Government Agencies: Law enforcement or intelligence agencies conducting surveillance.
  • Corporations: Companies collecting data for marketing or other purposes.
  • Insiders: Employees or contractors who might misuse their access.
  • Physical Threats: Burglars or thieves aiming to physically access your assets.

3. Assess Your Vulnerabilities

Identify weaknesses that these threats could exploit. Consider:

  • Technical Vulnerabilities: Unpatched software, weak passwords, outdated systems.
  • Behavioral Vulnerabilities: Poor security habits, lack of awareness.
  • Physical Vulnerabilities: Insecure physical locations, lack of physical security measures.

4. Determine the Potential Impact

Think about the consequences if your assets were compromised. Ask yourself:

  • How critical is the asset?
  • What would happen if it were accessed, stolen, or damaged?
  • Could compromising this asset lead to further vulnerabilities?

5. Prioritize Your Risks

Based on your assessment, rank your risks by considering:

  • Likelihood: How probable is it that a specific threat will exploit a particular vulnerability?
  • Impact: How severe would the consequences be if the threat succeeded?

6. Develop Mitigation Strategies

Create a plan to address the most critical risks. Strategies might include:

  • Technical Measures:

    • Use strong, unique passwords and enable two-factor authentication.
    • Keep your software and systems up to date with the latest security patches.
    • Use encryption to protect sensitive data.
  • Behavioral Measures:

    • Be cautious with sharing personal information online.
    • Stay informed about common scams and phishing tactics.
    • Regularly review your privacy settings on social media and other platforms.
  • Physical Measures:

    • Secure your devices with locks and use physical security measures for your home or office.
    • Store sensitive documents in a safe place.
    • Be mindful of your surroundings and use privacy screens in public places.

7. Continuously Review and Update

Your threat model isn’t a one-time project. Review and update it regularly as your situation changes or new threats emerge.


Example Threat Model

  1. Assets:

    • Personal Information (e.g., SSN, address)
    • Financial Information (e.g., bank accounts)
    • Digital Assets (e.g., emails, social media)
    • Physical Assets (e.g., laptop, phone)
  2. Threats:

    • Hackers (e.g., phishing attacks)
    • Government Agencies (e.g., surveillance)
    • Corporations (e.g., data collection)
    • Insiders (e.g., disgruntled employees)
    • Physical Threats (e.g., theft)
  3. Vulnerabilities:

    • Weak passwords
    • Outdated software
    • Sharing too much information online
    • Insecure physical locations
  4. Potential Impact:

    • Identity theft
    • Financial loss
    • Loss of privacy
    • Compromise of additional accounts
  5. Prioritize Risks:

    • High Likelihood/High Impact: Weak passwords leading to account compromise.
    • Low Likelihood/High Impact: Government surveillance leading to loss of privacy.
  6. Mitigation Strategies:

    • Use a password manager and enable two-factor authentication.
    • Regularly update all software and devices.
    • Limit the amount of personal information shared online.
    • Use a home security system and lock devices.
  • Aquila@sh.itjust.works
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    4 months ago
    • Never use an electronic password manager, use index cards and an art quality graphite pencil instead

    Can you elaborate on this? I thought keeping passwords written down near computer is big security no no?