Editor's note, September 2001: Three years ago, Bottom Line published this article, sadly more pertinent now than ever...

Threats against personal safety are rising at home and abroad. Bottom Line/Personal met with two leading security experts to find out what you can do to avoid becoming a target.

STAYING SAFE IN THE US
William McCarthy, PhD, Threat Research

Be alert to the risks. Don't automatically adopt an "it can't happen here" mentality. The threat of terrorist violence in the US still is low. There were only three such incidents reported in 1996 -- the latest year for which we have complete figures. But the terrorist threat does exist -- as the 1993 World Trade Center bombing made clear.

Best advice: Live your life as usual, but increase your awareness of what is going on around you. You stay alert to traffic when you cross a street -- maintain that same sense of alertness whenever you're away from your home.

Watch your surroundings as you walk down the street or enter a building. Be aware of the people and events around you. Don't let others see you daydreaming. Let your behavior demonstrate your awareness to others. The more alert you are to what is going on around you, the better your defenses against everything from street crime to terrorist violence.

Avoid points of vulnerability. Explosive devices inflict the most damage to the perimeter of the target.

When you enter a building -- to be safer -- put as much brick-and-mortar as possible between you and the outside walls. Don't linger in the lobby. Pass through as quickly as possible.

The area of greatest danger is near the big plate glass windows of buildings, stores and airports. Most victims aren't killed by the blast, but by flying glass and other debris. Wherever you are, never lean against an outside glass window. If possible, keep a reinforced cement column between you and the glass.

Beware of mail bombs. These are the most insidious weapon of terrorists. They were the weapon of choice of the Una-bomber. Although he is safely in prison, bombs are still sent through the mail.

Warning: A mail bomb is set off by opening it. People know that. Yet I'm amazed by the number of people who get a suspicious letter or package and open it.

Best advice: If you get a suspicious package at home or at work, don't open it. Consider a package suspicious if...

It is addressed to someone at your firm who doesn't exist.

It carries a return address with which you aren't familiar.

It carries excessive postage.

It is stained.

Very important: If anything makes you suspicious of a letter or a parcel, leave it unopened, clear the area and call for help.

Never be embarrassed about calling the police. People would rather live with fear than risk calling the police for a false alarm. If it is a false alarm, no harm is done -- but if there is a bomb, failing to call the police can hurt or kill.

Best advice: If you notice a suspicious package or object in your workplace, make an immediate effort to find out how the package got there. If you don't get an answer that satisfies you by the end of the day, call the police. Don't go home for the night without resolving your worry.

Warning: Never remain in the vicinity of an unattended package or suitcase left in a public area. If you see someone walk away from a suitcase or other package, politely remind him/her that he left the object unattended. If the person doesn't return to retrieve the package or if there is no one around, call the police. In Israel, if you walk two steps away from a package, I guarantee someone will challenge you.

STAYING SAFE OVERSEAS
Benjamin Weiner, Probe International, Inc.

Think carefully about where you go. With increased travel worldwide and reduced border vigilance, no place is safe from terrorism.

Example: There was no political reason why Muslim terrorists would attack a target in Kenya. They wanted to attack a symbol of the US, and the embassy in Nairobi was convenient.

Reducing the risk: Some countries pose greater risks than others. A country may be an avowed foe of the US or something may be going on now that makes a country a high-risk place to visit.

Example: Social unrest in the wake of the Asian financial crisis has added such countries as Indonesia and Malaysia to the high-risk list.

Keep up with current events so you know the latest political, economic and social hot spots. Your travel agent or business travel department should know the latest State Department warnings on areas to avoid... or contact the US State Department at 202-647-5225... or the embassy or nearest consulate of the country.

Helpful: The Internet has numerous sites with up-to-date travel intelligence. Travel warnings from the State Department are available at http://travel.state.gov/travel_warnings.html.

Plan when to go. Terrorist acts are most likely to occur on days that have symbolic meaning to the people involved. Take into account religious holidays, ethnic observances and national days. Learn important days in countries you'll be visiting, and plan your itinerary around them. If your travel agent doesn't have this information, contact the local representative of the country.

Be a security-smart traveler. Airports are a favorite target for terrorist attacks, so spend as little time in them as you can. Join one of the airline clubs. This will provide you with a relatively safe place to wait for your flight. Travel light, with everything in one or two bags. Carry luggage on board, so you can avoid the baggage-claim area. That gets you out of the airport faster.

Be as inconspicuous as possible. Whether you're a tourist or a business traveler, avoid anything that makes you stand out in the crowd. Don't wear or do anything that would cause people to give you a second glance.

Best advice: Dress quietly. Wear a business suit or sports clothes in muted tones. Don't wear religious symbols. Avoid clothing with logos of American colleges or sports teams. Don't call attention to yourself by wearing flashy jewelry or an expensive watch.

Helpful: Your luggage should not have any American symbols or logos of American companies. It must have an ID tag, but put your identification into the holder backward. If the luggage is lost, the tag will be taken apart to learn your identity. Otherwise, anyone looking at your ID tag will see only a blank card.

Be a street-smart traveler. Avoid street demonstrations and political gatherings, even in countries where anti-American violence is rare. Anything can happen when passions get inflamed.

Be polite and soft-spoken wherever you go. Offensive language or rude behavior makes you stand out in a crowd. Try to visit high-profile tourist attractions during off-peak hours -- especially in destinations where terrorist groups are known to operate. That will not only help keep you safe, it will let you see the sights when the crowds are the thinnest.