If you're a journalist, streamer, public figure, or just visibly online, swatting is a real risk. Score your exposure and get a concrete protection plan.
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Swatting Defense Checklist
If you're a journalist, streamer, public figure, or just visibly online, swatting is a real risk. Score your exposure and get a concrete protection plan.
Swatting is when an attacker calls 911 claiming a violent incident at your address — typically a hostage situation or active shooter — to send armed police to your home. This 12-question checklist covers the practical defenses available to civilians. None require legal authority, expensive products, or technical skill.
1. Have you removed your home address from public voter rolls (where your state allows)?
Most states allow a Confidential Address Program (CAP) for at-risk individuals — journalists, abuse survivors, judges, public officials. Apply through your Secretary of State.
2. Have you scrubbed your home address from data-broker sites (Spokeo, Whitepages, BeenVerified, etc.)?
Use the Data Broker Removal Status tool on this site — covers 30 major brokers with opt-out templates. Pentester / DeleteMe automate it for ~$20/mo.
3. Is your home owned by an LLC or trust (so property records don't list your personal name)?
A simple LLC purchase removes your name from the deed. Worth it for high-visibility individuals.
4. Have you pre-registered with your local police department's non-emergency line?
Most departments will note your address as 'high swatting risk — verify before SWAT response'. Call the non-emergency line, ask for the watch commander.
5. Have you removed geotagged photos of your home from social media?
EXIF data in photos taken on phones often contains GPS coordinates. Strip metadata before posting. Avoid posting photos of your front door, mailbox number, or unique exterior features.
6. Do you have at least one wired security camera (not Wi-Fi-only) covering the front door?
Wi-Fi cameras fail when jammed or the internet drops. PoE-wired cameras with local recording continue working. See the RF Jammer Detection Awareness tool for context.
7. Is your phone number listed publicly tied to your real name?
A public phone number is a primary input to swatting kits. Use a separate Google Voice or burner number for any public-facing role.
8. Have you told your immediate neighbors that you may be a swatting target?
Neighbors who know your situation can call police if they see suspicious vehicles, and can vouch for you during an actual response.
9. Do you have a written 'in case of swatting' instruction sheet for your family?
Specifics: who answers the door, hands visible, no sudden movements, no holding phones (looks like a weapon), no pets running out. Walk through it with everyone in the house.
10. Are you registered with the FBI iGuardian portal as a public-figure swatting target?
If you've been swatted before, file an IC3 report at https://www.ic3.gov — creates a federal record.
11. Have you opted out of having your address appear on package-delivery confirmation pages and gift registries?
Amazon, Target, Macy's wedding/baby registries often leak addresses to anyone who searches your name. Switch to a UPS Store or PO box for public-tied accounts.
12. Do you have a peephole or doorbell-camera that lets you visually verify the uniform + agency before opening?
Even during a real police response you can ask for badge + agency through the door. Slows nothing legitimate; protects you from impersonators.