You Should Make A Digital Bugout Bag

Summary

This video script emphasizes the importance of a digital bug out bag, an emergency survival kit with encrypted digital backups of essential documents on a microSD card using VeraCrypt. It guides viewers on how to create secure backups, protect them from theft and physical damage, and includes tips on essential apps for offline navigation, weather forecasts, and survival information. The tutorial aims to prepare individuals for crises where digital security and access to crucial information are vital.

Takeaways

• 🆘 The International Red Cross recommends having an emergency survival kit with multi-day supplies for natural or man-made crises.
• 📱 A 'digital bug out bag' should include personal documents, a cell phone with chargers and batteries, and emergency contact information.
• 🔒 Digital documents should be securely backed up and encrypted to prevent loss, theft, and misuse in a crisis.
• 💼 A microSD card is suggested as a compact and versatile storage medium for the digital bug out bag.
• 🛡️ VeraCrypt is recommended as a cross-platform encryption software to secure files on the digital backup.
• 🔑 A strong passphrase of at least 30 characters is crucial for encrypting the digital backup to ensure it remains uncrackable.
• 📚 Important documents to include in the backup are medication lists, medical information, proof of address, legal documents, and insurance policies.
• 🔐 Use a password manager like KeePassXC to securely store and backup all login details and two-factor authentication tokens.
• 🔄 Create a backup of the backup to ensure redundancy and security of the digital bug out bag.
• 🌳 Download offline apps for emergency situations, such as navigation, weather forecasts, survival guides, and plant identification tools.
• 🚫 Consider operational security by hiding the digital backup in inconspicuous items to avoid drawing attention in a crisis.

Q & A

What is the purpose of an emergency survival kit according to the International Red Cross?

The purpose of an emergency survival kit is to provide multi-day supplies of essential items for use in case of natural or man-made crises that result in the need for evacuation or a major disruption of daily services.

What is a digital bug out bag and why is it important?

A digital bug out bag is a collection of digital essentials, including copies of personal documents, a cell phone with chargers and extra batteries, and emergency contact information. It is important because it provides an additional layer of security and accessibility for essential documents in case physical copies are lost or destroyed during an emergency.

Why should digital documents be encrypted?

Digital documents should be encrypted to protect them from being easily abused for fraud in case they are stolen or lost. Encryption ensures that even if the digital documents are accessed by unauthorized individuals, they cannot read the contents without the decryption key.

What are the advantages of using a microSD card for a digital backup?

A microSD card is advantageous for a digital backup because it is small, easily transportable, and can be securely encrypted. Its small size allows it to be hidden in various items, and it is more resilient against physical elements like water and fire compared to paper documents.

Why is VeraCrypt a suitable choice for encrypting a digital backup?

VeraCrypt is a suitable choice because it is a cross-platform, free, and open-source encryption application that works on Windows, Mac, and Linux. It can create encrypted files, partitions, and even entire operating systems, offering strong security measures such as hidden volumes for plausible deniability.

What is the significance of using a passphrase for encrypting a digital backup?

A passphrase is significant because it provides a layer of security to the encrypted volume. A strong passphrase should be at least 30 characters long and memorable to ensure that the encrypted data remains secure and cannot be easily guessed or cracked.

What are some important documents to include in a secure digital backup?

Important documents to include in a secure digital backup are medication lists, medical information, proof of address, deeds or leases, passports, birth certificates, insurance policies, and any personal photos or files one wishes to keep.

Why is it recommended to have a backup of your digital backup?

Having a backup of your digital backup ensures that even if the original backup is lost, damaged, or compromised, there is another secure copy available. This redundancy is crucial for maintaining the integrity and accessibility of important data in an emergency.

What are some items that should be included in an emergency digital bug out bag besides the encrypted backup?

Besides the encrypted backup, an emergency digital bug out bag should include a waterproof or fireproof Faraday bag, a dumb phone with multiple SIM cards, extra chargers, batteries, cables, a power bank, and backup 2FA tokens. It may also contain offline apps for navigation, weather forecasting, and survival guides.

What is the role of a Faraday bag in an emergency digital bug out bag?

A Faraday bag in an emergency digital bug out bag serves to protect electronic devices from electromagnetic pulses or interference, ensuring that they remain functional during an emergency. It can also be waterproof, adding an extra layer of protection against the elements.

What are some recommended apps for an emergency situation that can be used offline?

Recommended offline apps for an emergency situation include OSMn for privacy-respecting map and navigation, TrailSims for off-track navigation, offline weather forecasts, and survival guides such as Offline Wikipedia for a wealth of information and apps for recognizing wild edibles and herbs for foraging.

Outlines

00:00

🛡️ Emergency Preparedness with a Digital Bug Out Bag

The International Red Cross advises having an emergency survival kit equipped with multi-day essentials for natural or man-made crises. This includes a digital bug out bag with personal documents, a charged cell phone, and emergency contacts. Paper documents are vulnerable to damage or theft, and may not be secure against fraud. A secure digital backup on a microSD card, encrypted with VeraCrypt, provides an additional layer of security. The card can be small and hidden, protected against various elements, and easily transportable. The tutorial covers creating an encrypted backup, securely copying files, and protecting them from theft and physical damage. It also discusses the advantages of digital copies, such as encryption and resilience against environmental factors.

05:00

🔒 Secure Digital Backup and Encryption with VeraCrypt

The paragraph explains the process of encrypting a digital backup using VeraCrypt, a cross-platform, open-source encryption application. It highlights the benefits of using multiple encryption algorithms for enhanced security and the option of creating a hidden volume for plausible deniability. The importance of choosing a strong passphrase is emphasized, and the setup process for VeraCrypt is detailed, including the creation of an encrypted volume and the secure transfer of important documents. The paragraph also suggests backing up the encrypted volume and protecting the physical security of the backup. Additional items for the digital bug out bag, such as a waterproof Faraday bag and essential emergency apps, are recommended for comprehensive preparedness.

10:02

📲 Enhancing Emergency Preparedness with Essential Apps

This paragraph focuses on the importance of having offline apps for emergency situations on your smartphone. It recommends OSMn, a privacy-respecting map and navigation app, and suggests downloading offline maps for areas you may need to navigate. Other apps mentioned include Trailsims for off-track navigation, offline weather forecasts, and Wikipedia for a wealth of information. The paragraph also advises having offline survival and first aid guides, as well as an app for identifying wild edibles and herbs. The importance of keeping the digital bug out bag ready, updated, and easily accessible in an emergency is stressed, along with the suggestion to share this knowledge with others.

Keywords

💡Emergency Survival Kit

An 'Emergency Survival Kit' is a collection of essential items that one should have ready in case of a crisis, such as a natural disaster or a man-made emergency. In the video's context, it emphasizes the importance of having both physical and digital backups of vital documents and supplies. The script mentions that the International Red Cross recommends having a multi-day supply of essential items, including a 'digital bug out bag'.

💡Digital Bug Out Bag

A 'Digital Bug Out Bag' refers to a set of digital tools and files that one would need in an emergency situation. The script discusses the inclusion of personal documents, phone numbers, and other essential information in a digital format to ensure they are secure and easily accessible during a crisis. It is part of the broader concept of an emergency survival kit.

💡Encryption

Encryption is the process of converting data into a code to prevent unauthorized access. In the script, encryption is highlighted as a crucial method for securing digital documents within a 'digital bug out bag'. The video mentions using VeraCrypt, an encryption software, to create an encrypted volume on a microSD card to protect personal files.

💡VeraCrypt

VeraCrypt is a free, open-source disk encryption software mentioned in the script as the encryption tool of choice for creating a secure digital backup. It supports various platforms and can encrypt entire storage devices or create encrypted containers for files. The script provides a detailed guide on how to use VeraCrypt to encrypt a microSD card for a digital bug out bag.

💡MicroSD Card

A MicroSD card is a small, versatile storage medium that can be used to store digital backups. The script discusses using a MicroSD card for the digital bug out bag due to its size, portability, and capacity. It can be encrypted using VeraCrypt to store personal documents securely.

💡Physical Security

Physical security refers to the measures taken to protect physical items from theft, damage, or unauthorized access. In the context of the video, physical security is discussed in relation to protecting the digital backup stored on a MicroSD card. The script suggests using a waterproof Faraday bag to protect the card from environmental elements and theft.

💡Faraday Bag

A Faraday bag is a container designed to block external electromagnetic fields, thus protecting the contents from electronic theft or damage. The script mentions using a waterproof Faraday bag to store the encrypted MicroSD card, as well as other electronic devices and chargers, ensuring they are safe from both physical harm and electronic interference.

💡Password Manager

A password manager is a tool used to securely store and manage login credentials for various online accounts. The script recommends using a password manager like KeePassXC to generate strong, unique passwords and to create a secure backup of these passwords as part of the digital bug out bag. This ensures that access to online services remains secure even in an emergency.

💡Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

Two-factor authentication, or 2FA, is a security method that requires two types of verification to access an account, typically something the user knows (a password) and something the user has (a physical token or app). The script advises having backup 2FA tokens or keys, such as Nitro Keys, to maintain account security in case the primary method is lost or inaccessible.

💡Offline Apps

Offline apps are applications that can function without an internet connection. The script suggests downloading offline versions of essential apps for navigation, weather forecasting, and survival guides to be included in the digital bug out bag. These apps can provide valuable information and services during a crisis when network access may be unavailable.

💡Operational Security (OpSec)

Operational security, or OpSec, involves the measures taken to protect sensitive information from being discovered by adversaries. In the script, OpSec is discussed in the context of hiding the digital bug out bag and its contents to avoid drawing attention to the valuable information it contains. The video mentions considering the appearance of the Faraday bag to ensure it does not hint at the presence of valuable items.

Highlights

The International Red Cross recommends having an emergency survival kit with multi-day supplies for natural or man-made crises.

A digital bug out bag includes personal documents, a cell phone with chargers, and emergency contact information.

Physical documents can be easily destroyed or lost, necessitating secure digital backups.

Secure digital backups can be encrypted and stored on a microSD card for added protection.

A microSD card is chosen for its versatility, size, and resilience against malware.

VeraCrypt is a cross-platform encryption app used to create secure digital backups.

VeraCrypt allows for encrypted files, partitions, and even entire operating systems.

Hidden volumes in VeraCrypt provide plausible deniability for sensitive data.

Choosing a strong passphrase is crucial for protecting the encrypted volume.

A live Linux operating system is recommended for verifying VeraCrypt's checksum for security.

Creating an encrypted volume on a microSD card ensures the backup is secure and portable.

Including a medication list, medical information, and proof of address in the digital backup is advised.

Using a password manager like KeePassXC to securely store login details is recommended.

Backing up two-factor authentication (2FA) is essential for maintaining account access in an emergency.

Physical security of the digital backup, such as using a waterproof Faraday bag, is as important as encryption.

Including offline apps for navigation, weather forecasting, and survival guides in the digital bug out bag is crucial.

The digital bug out bag should be ready, updated, and easily accessible in case of an emergency.

Sharing the knowledge of creating a digital bug out bag can help others prepare for unforeseen crises.

Transcripts

international red cross recommends that

all persons have an emergency survival

kit with multi-day supplies of the most

essential items this is in case of any

natural or main-made crisis resulting in

a need for evacuation or a major

disruption of day-to-day services part

of this emergency kit is what i would

call a digital bug out bag it includes

copies of personal documents cell phone

with chargers and extra batteries and

family and emergency contact information

many if not all of these copies should

be physical but paper documents can

easily get destroyed by floods fire and

collapse they can be lost or stolen and

in case of theft your paper documents

are not encrypted and they could be

easily abused for fraud which is the

last thing you want to think about in a

crisis

having a secure digital backup gives you

an additional fail save if all else is

lost hopefully you will never be in a

situation where you need this but it's

always better to be prepared because

this can save you the precious seconds

that might be decisive in an emergency

situation a digital copy has advantages

that are impossible to achieve with

physical papers you can securely encrypt

your files on a tiny microsd card that

can fit inside anything if someone

steals it they wouldn't be able to read

the contents because it's so small it

can be significantly protected against

water fire and weather elements while

still remaining easily transportable a

small micro sd card can be hidden in a

ubiquitous item or zoomed into a piece

of clothing to prevent it from being

stolen you can put your card inside a

waterproof faraday bag and a fi approved

case alongside your cell phone chargers

and extra batteries a secure digital

backup gives you the flexibility you

need to adapt it to your particular

thread model depending on your situation

geography or country so in this short

tutorial i'll guide you through the

process of creating an encrypted digital

backup on a microsd card how to securely

copy and store your files and how to

protect it from theft loss and physical

elements i also extend this tutorial to

include emergency items and apps that

could help you better navigate through a

crisis situation this won't take long so

let's begin i chose a microsd card for

this purpose because it's the most

versatile storage medium for a digital

bug out bag technically a usb flash

drive will be the most widely accepted

standard among any modern computer

laptop or even mobile devices however

usb drives are usually bigger and

thicker than just the raw frame of a

micro sd card and hiding your encrypted

backup might be just as important as

encrypting it if you want to go for

something like attaching a usb drive to

your keychain and always keeping it with

you and you don't want to hide your

backup out of sight then choose a usb

drive whatever option is better than

nothing

sd cards generally provide larger

capacity much cheaper than usb flash

drives sd cards are also more resilient

than flash drives against malware that

could be carried on the medium to other

computers once you chose your storage

medium it's time to encrypt our

encryption software of choice is going

to be veracrypt it's a cross-platform

free and open source encryption app that

works on windows mac and linux it is

able to create encrypted files

partitions and even entire operating

systems you can also provide hidden

volumes and hidden operating systems

with a decay volume if you need

plausible deniability for when you are

forced to unlock your data download the

app from veracrypt.fr

and before installing it verify your

download for additional security

veracrypt has a guide on how to verify

their signatures for windows and linux

i'm using linux so that's what i'm

following here for best security for

hidden volumes use a live linux

operating system first verify the

checksum with the simple sha256 sum

command and compare the output to what's

published on the vercredit website

checksums are in a file that can be

found at the bottom of the downloads

page if there is a match i can proceed

pgp verification is just a matter of

copy pasting gpg commands into the

terminal and adjusting for the current

version of verified i'm looking for good

signature in the output once

verification is done i can install when

you install veracrypt you can start

encrypting your storage

encrypting an entire partition or drive

will erase all of your data so be

careful to select correctly you can

choose to create an encrypted verified

volume that will act as a normal file

that can be copied or sent over the

internet this file can be securely

stored on your sd card the advantage of

this setup is that you can keep a backup

at your trusted friends location and

have them send you the volume over the

internet that only you will be able to

decrypt make sure you select the proper

size of the volume so that it can house

all of the documents and files you want

to protect i'm going to choose to

encrypt my entire card because i don't

have a trusted friend because i have no

friends and i don't know if i can keep

doing this any longer modern encryption

algorithms rarely get mathematically

broken but it could happen in the future

if you're optimistic about having a

future in the first place choose a

cascading encryption algo to have that

sail fave and have more future proof

security the probability that three

distinct encryption algorithms will be

broken is significantly lower than the

probability that only one of them will

be broken there is an option to select a

hidden or a standard vertical volume

encryption is the same the only

difference is that with a hidden volume

you create a decoy volume with junk data

that you don't mind disclosing to your

adversaries and a real volume they don't

want to share with untrusted parties

they are protected by different

passwords and will only be unlocked when

a correct password is entered if all the

security precautions are met your

adversary shouldn't be able to prove you

have a hidden volume hence it gives you

possible deniability when you're forced

to give up your password i recommend

that you check vercrypt's official

security requirements or hidden volumes

if you want to go this route to keep

this tutorial simple i'll go for a

standard encrypted volume assume someone

could get physical access to your

encrypted volume and they could attack

it with trillions of guesses per second

choose a strong passphrase that's at

least 30 characters long it's best to

make a memorable phrase that's long and

doesn't contain any special characters

to keep it simple for your memory do

what works for you but remember if you

forget your passphrase you'll never

unlock your volume a phrase like

splinter it into a thousand pieces and

scattered into the winds is 53

characters long easily memorable and

most definitely uncrackable unless we're

talking about cracking skulls with magic

bullets

for most of the veracrypt setup you go

for the default settings and follow the

steps until you finish the process once

you've created your encrypted volume

it's time to make copies of your most

important documents make sure to do this

using a secure scanner or a camera that

is not connected to the internet open

verscrypt and mount your volume using

your passwords transfer your copies into

the volume and leave you original copies

from your camera or scanner think about

what to include in your secure backup

red cross recommends medication list and

medical information the proof of address

a deed or lease to your home passports

birth certificates and insurance

policies think about also about the

files of the people in your household i

would also add to this list any personal

photos or files you want to keep and

also your passwords for this i would

recommend a password database that you

can generate using password manager

keepassxc download keypads from the

official website and make a backup of

all the login details you use you should

be using a password manager anyway to

make strong and unique passwords for all

of your online services your password

database will be encrypted for

additional protection so that when you

unlock your verified volume your

passwords are still protected remember

to also securely backup your second

factory authentication you should use a

2fa for your online accounts for better

security if you lose your second factors

you might lose access into your accounts

and recovery might take days it's always

best practice to make backups of 2fa as

well once you're done with securely

backing up all your important files

create a backup of your backup because

one is done and none is two or two is

one i don't know whatever to securely

backup your secure backup don't just

copy your veracrypt volume file into a

new location instead create a new

vertrip volume following the same steps

mount your main volume and your new

volume and copy and paste all the files

from your main vertex volume into the

new one

if you're encrypting an entire card like

i do you will need two cards protecting

physical security of your backups is

just as important as the encryption

itself give me the password it's always

better having to avoid torture in

exchange for your passphrase

by not revealing to your adversary you

have a digital backup in the first place

michael basil uses a coin that can fit a

micro sd card in it other solutions

could be toys clothing or low value

items of no particular interest keep in

mind that you want to protect your card

from damage dust and weather elements

you might want to have a waterproof

faraday bag that can also house your

cell phone batteries and chargers if you

use a tactical looking faraday bag it

might hint to your adversaries you're

keeping something of value so always

consider your operation security out of

sight is out of mind that's it for the

encrypted backups now let's add some

more items into our emergency digital

bug out bag a waterproof or a fireproof

faraday bag might come in handy when it

comes to your most important devices you

should have a dumb phone with multiple

sim cards to always have the best

connection available in your area pack

extra chargers batteries cables and a

power bank if you use speedo security

tokens for your 2fa check a backup of

those as well i use nitro keys because

they are the most secure solo key only

here even a yubikey is better than

nothing house keys car keys could also

be stored safely inside a weatherproof

faraday bag when it comes to your

smartphone you should download apps with

offline content for emergency situation

my list includes osmn this is a free and

open source privacy respective map and

navigation app be sure to download

offline apps into your phone and update

them regularly

trailsims is a good app for navigation

off track offline weather forecast and

survival offline wikipedia is a huge

source of relevant information download

as much as you can and is important to

survival in emergency situations it's

always handy to have an offline survival

guide in a digital form that can be read

at night without available lights the

same goes for first aid and medical

guides you should also keep an app that

helps you recognize plants and organisms

based on their appearance so you can

forage for wild edibles and herbs your

digital bug out bag should always be

ready updated and available it should be

a grab-and-go bag that you always know

what's inside and you don't have to

think about it in an emergency if you

have any questions or points to discuss

head over to my suburb for input from

the community comments your ideas and

points to consider for a digital bug out

back and share this video with everyone

around you you might never know when

this information might be needed

hopefully never but you all know you're

not hopeful you're just hiding your

crippling depression or maybe that's

just me

you