This brief proposes the concept of “alter-messaging,” centered on credible and compatible messengers, specifically former terrorists and survivors of terrorist attacks, who can deliver alternative content to the ideology of terrorism. Ensuring the messengers’ credibility remains intact is essential, and maintaining a strict level of independence from government influence or manipulation is key to success. Alter-messaging separates the act of communicating into four components: the message, the messenger, the medium of delivery, and the recipient. The first three components are tailored to specific audiences during alter-messaging efforts to maximize the probability that the content will prevent individuals from becoming radicalized. Terrorist organizations rely on the convincing nature of their ideology, conveyed through narratives, to help maintain a constant influx of new recruits who enable the execution of violent terrorist attacks. Alter-messaging, in essence, aims to disable a terrorist’s most powerful weapon—ideology—and not only prevent future recruits from joining the ranks of terrorist organizations, but also implant an alternative message within a terrorist organization itself, causing an increase in defectors