'Crack vs. Thump': A Former Sniper's Viral Guide to Surviving an Active Shooter

In an era of unpredictable public violence, from stabbings in Australian malls to shootings near U.S. university campuses, a grim new skill set is going viral online: how to survive an active shooter. A former sniper, posting on TikTok as @cfh.unfiltered, is demystifying survival tactics for millions, and his advice is starkly practical.

The expert boils down immediate actions into three key survival principles. To increase your odds, he advises you to 1) increase distance from the threat, 2) use cover and concealment, and 3) move erratically to become a difficult target. These actions are designed to disrupt a shooter's ability to aim and execute.

Just as important, he highlights three common mistakes that dramatically increase risk. He warns that 1) freezing in place, 2) playing dead, or 3) attempting to negotiate are among the worst things a civilian can do in a mass casualty event.

"While you're playing dead, he's going to walk up and put another one in you to make sure you're dead," the sniper explains in one video. "You cannot be static."

Perhaps his most crucial piece of advice is a technique to locate the shooter using only sound. He explains the difference between the 'crack' of a supersonic bullet passing you and the 'thump' of the rifle firing. If you hear the 'crack' first, followed by the 'thump,' the bullet has already gone past you, and the shooter is in the direction of the 'thump'. The time delay between the two sounds can even help you estimate the shooter's distance.

This surge in demand for survival knowledge reflects a global anxiety. According to Forbes, there have been 393 mass shootings in the United States in 2025, resulting in 348 deaths. Yet, this is not a uniquely American problem. Some of the world's deadliest mass shootings occurred elsewhere, including the 2015 attack on Garissa University in Kenya that killed 148 people and the coordinated attacks in Paris that same year, which left 130 dead.

The core of this advice often echoes the official guidance from agencies like the U.S. Department of Homeland Security: Run, Hide, Fight. The protocol prioritizes escaping the area, hiding silently if escape isn't possible, and, as a last resort, committing to fighting back to save your life.

PRISM Insight: The viral spread of specialized survival skills on platforms like TikTok marks a significant shift in how public safety knowledge is disseminated. It reflects a growing global sentiment that personal security is an individual responsibility, moving beyond reliance on institutional protection. We are witnessing the rise of 'DIY self-preservation' as a mainstream digital trend.