If you didn’t build it, its not secure, or so I’ve said a time or two. This should give you pause to wonder about all of the idiots telling you “bro just buy a used police radio, its encrypted”. Of course this is one of those things the press n’ talk crowd discusses, usually never having the prerequisite qualifications to comment on it. Like, I dunno, dirt time in a uniform. I digress.

Encryption relies on you. It 100% *is* a mission requirement. And with that said if you didn’t build it, you shouldn’t trust it. The greater the level of control you have over what your equipment is actually doing and where it is transmitting (and how flexible that system can be) makes all of the difference. Then again that takes training, planning, and tactical patience.