Journalist #6 mentions his practice of familiarising himself with the characteristics of each checkpoint to discern varying levels of scrutiny, from those lax with security to those equipped with X-ray machines. Sometimes, however, there is a need to improvise. Journalist #2 explained how he was suddenly stopped on the road, and had to hastily hide his equipment in a biscuit package and throw away the remaining items he could not hide. Journalist #3, who cannot afford to risk data loss, monitors news about conflicts and opts for less frequented paths with minimal military presence, avoiding main roads to mitigate risk. Despite journalists’ efforts to avoid checkpoints and minimise suspicion, security checks and arrests often prove arbitrary and situational. Journalist #5, for instance, was checked simply while taking a walk in her neighbourhood: When they asked for my password to unlock it, I had to [comply]. One soldier checked my phone while the other looked around, holding his gun. Luckily, they only checked the gallery, then asked me to open my Facebook app, which I did. It was my personal account. They scrolled through my newsfeed, checked the photos, and that was all. I was very shocked. There were protests near my neighbourhood at that time; I think that's why they were patrolling, saw me, and decided to check. 23