German agent Peter Steudtner, one of the so-called human rights activists who took part in the secret Büyükada meeting, was revealed to have been giving lessons regarding stealth measures and clandestine intelligence practices to participants gathered on the island off the coast of Istanbul.
Steudtner, an IT specialist, advised participants in the meeting on how to avoid government surveillance.
Steudtner warned meeting participants of a device called “IMSI (International Mobile Subscriber Identity) -catcher” that is used by intelligence agencies and can be used to intercept calls and messages.
He taught audience members how to dismantle “IMSI-catchers” on their devices and gave instructions on how to bypass eavesdropping in their secret meetings, stressing the need to safeguard against the device by giving out detailed information to the participants.
During the meeting, German agent Steudtner gave additional technical information about monitoring and surveillance, advising participants to refrain from using smartphones, instead he recommended meeting participants use old-fashioned “burner phones” that must be tossed and replaced regularly.
He pointed out that non-traceable phones must be used, as the IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) number could be tracked, adding that they should refrain from bringing the same phone to the next meeting as a precaution.
He also warned meeting’s participants to stay away from regular SIM cards and advised instead to use non-attributable ones that are sold on the black market.
Security sources have stressed that this type of “stealth lessons” given in Büyükada underscores the importance of the upcoming meetings to be held in the upcoming days.
Steudtner and nine others were arrested in Istanbul.
In the upcoming days, the so-called “human rights defenders” that weren’t detained by security forces in the Büyükada meeting will put these “stealth lessons” to use in instigating events similar to the ones that took place in Gezi park a few years ago.
