Warning Signs of Covert Eavesdropping or Bugging
If any of the following warning signs apply and you are concerned about covert eavesdropping or wiretapping then it would be wise to contact Granite Island Group, or another TSCM firm and schedule a "Bug Sweep" or TSCM Inspection. However, do not call from a suspect telephone, cellular telephone, or cordless phone and understand that it is critical that you should get someone out to your location as quietly, and as quickly as possible.
This is the most obvious indicator of covert eavesdropping
activities. Theft of confidential information is a multi-billion
dollar underground industry in the United States. Often the loss
of your secrets will show up in very subtle ways so you should
always trust your instincts in this matter. When your
competitors know things that are obviously private, or the media
finds out about things they should not know, then it is
reasonable to suspect technical eavesdropping or bugging.
Confidential meetings and bids are very popular targets for
corporate spies. How would you like the plans for the corporate
takeovers you're planning to become public knowledge? Would copies
of your product designs be of any use to your competitors? Would
it be beneficial for your competitors to know how much you're
quoting for the same project?
This is commonly caused by an amateur eavesdropper when they attach a
wiretap, or activate a similar listening device. Surveillance
devices often cause slight anomalies on the telephone line such
a volume shift or drop-out. Professional eavesdroppers and their
equipment usually do not make such noises; so if this is going on
it could indicate that an amateur eavesdropper is listening
in.
This is caused by the capacitive discharge which occurs when two
conductors are connected together (such as a bug or wiretap on a
phone line). This is also a sign that an amateur eavesdropper or
poorly trained spy is playing with your phone lines. It could be
nothing more then a problem with your phone line or instrument,
but a TSCM person should evaluate the situation to make sure.
This is often caused by a hook switch bypass, which turns the
telephone receiver into a eavesdropping microphone (and also a
speaker). There is probably somebody listening to everything you
say or do within twenty feet of the telephone (if this is
happening).
This is an indicator of a slave device, or
line extender being used on your phone line. This is also a key
indicator of a harmonica bug, or infinity transmitter being
used. Of course it may also be nothing more then a fax machine
or modem calling the wrong number (but a TSCM person should
evaluate the situation to make sure).
To check for something like this you would have to obtain a
"recorder starter" interface (with a VOX option), or some kind
of a high gain audio amplifier such as a uAmp or Kaiser 1059.
Then with the phone hung-up listen to your telephone wiring. If
you hear a faint solid dual tone it is a dead giveaway of
someone using a "slave" eavesdropping device on your (or one of
your neighbors) telephone lines. Such devices create a "command
tone" when the subject hangs up the phone (so you must ensure
that all of your phones are hung-up). On an added note: the most
common command tones for illicit eavesdropping devices are 2100
Hz and DTMF-C, but any tone combination may be used.
Many amateur and spy shop eavesdropping devices use frequencies
within or just outside the FM radio band, these signals tend to
drift and will "quiet" an FM radio in the vicinity of the bug.
Look for the transmissions at far ends of the FM radio band, and
at any quiet area within the FM band. If the radio begins to
squeal then slowly move it around the room until the sound
become very high pitched. This is referred to as feedback
detection or loop detection and will often locate the bug. The
"stereo" function should be turned off so the radio is operating
in "mono" as this will provide a serious increase in
sensitivity. If you find a "squealer" in this manner then
immediately contact a TSCM and get them to your location
FAST.
Keep in mind that the antenna your car radio uses may be (and
often is) exploited by an eavesdropper, and that such usage may
interfere with radio reception (so be concerned if you
automobile radio suddenly starts getting weird).
Television broadcast frequencies are often used to cloak a
eavesdropping signal, but such a devices also tends to interfere
with television reception (usually a UHF channel). Televisions
also "suck in" a lot of RF energy and because of this are very
sensitive to any nearby transmitters (this is technically called
"Bandwidth, and TV signals use a lot of it). A small handheld
television with a collapsible antenna may be used to sweep a
room. Carefully watch for interference around channel numbers 2,
7, 13, 14, 50-60, and 66-68 as these frequencies are very
popular with eavesdroppers.
Professional eavesdroppers often break into a targets home or
office, and very rarely leave direct evidence of the break-in;
however, occupants of the premises will often "pickup on
something not being right" such as the furniture being moved
slightly.
One of the most popular locations to hide eavesdropping devices
is inside, or behind electrical outlets, switches, smoke alarms,
and lighting fixtures. This requires that the wall plates be
removed. Look for small amounts of debris located on the floor
directly below the electrical outlet. Also, watch for slight
variations in the color or appearance of the power outlets
and/or light switches as these are often swapped out by an
eavesdropper. Also note if any of the screws which hold the
wallplate against the wall have been moved from their previous
position.
This is a tell tale sign that a pinhole microphone or small
covert video camera has been recently installed.
Many of these "gifts" are actually trojan horses which contain
eavesdropping devices. Be very suspicious of any kind of pen,
marker, briefcase, calculator, "post-it" dispenser, power
adapter, pager, cell phone, cordless phone, clock, radio, lamp,
and so on that is given as a gift. That little gift the salesman
left for you may be a serious hazard.
Strong indicator that someone may have concealed covert wiring
or a microphone imbedded into the adhesive which holds the
molding to the wall. Such deformation will often appear as a
color shift, or lightening of the color.
These items are very popular concealment for covert
eavesdropping devices. Often when these devices are installed at
a target location they are rarely installed straight. Also watch
out for things like this that "just appear", or when there is a
slight change in their appearance.
Typical items to watch for and beware of are: clocks, exit signs,
sprinkler heads, radios, picture frames, and lamps.
A sign that a pinhole microphone or video camera may have been
installed nearby. It will appear as if someone has dropped a
small amount of powdered sugar either on the floor, or on the
wall.
Prime indicator that a ceiling tile has been moved around, and
that someone may have installed a hidden video camera or other
eavesdropping device in your office or near your desk. Also
watch for cracks or chips in the ceiling tiles. Amateur and
poorly trained spies tend to crack or damage acoustical tiles.
The ceiling tiles in any executive areas should never contain
any cracks, nicks, gouges, or stains. Any ceiling tile that
becomes damaged (for what ever reason) should immediately
replaced and the cause to the damage documented. In such cases
it is also wise to have a TSCM specialist inspect the area
around the chipped, broken, or damaged tile to determine if a
hostile eavesdropping device may have been introduced.
If you see the same or similar vehicles more then three times
then you may have a serious problem (at least according to the
U.S. State Department training course on counter surveillance).
A very common ruse which eavesdroppers use to get into a
facility is to fake a utility outage, and then show up to fix
the problem. While they are fixing "the problem" they are also
installing eavesdropping devices. Some of the more popular
outage involve power, air conditioning, telephone, and even the
occasional false fire alarm.
These vehicles are commonly used as listening posts, be very
cautious of any vehicle which has a ladder or pipe rack on the
roof. Also, be wary of any vehicle which has tinted windows, or
an area which you cannot see though (like a service van). The
listening post vehicle could be any vehicle from a small Geo
Tracker, Suburban, Blazer, Trooper, or Cargo Van. Look for any
vehicle which could conceal a person in the back or has tinted
windows. Also, keep in mind that the eavesdropper may relocate
the vehicle several times, so look around. Typically,
eavesdroppers like to get within 500-750 feet from the place or
person they are eavesdropping on.
Prime evidence that the lock has been picked, manipulated, or
bypassed. Try to always use biaxial locks with sidebars (such as
ASSA or Medeco). Also, only use double sided deadbolts in all
doors, and good quality window bars on all windows, and a good
quality door bar on all doors not used as a primary entry
doors.
A very popular location for the installation of eavesdropping
device is either behind, or inside furniture (couch, chair,
lamp, etc.) People who live or work in a targeted area tend to
notice when furnishings have been moved even a fraction of an
inch. Pay close attention to the imprint which furniture makes
on rugs, and the position of lamps shades. Also watch the
distance between furniture and the wall as eavesdroppers are
usually in a hurry and rarely put the furniture back in the
right place.
A "less than professional spy" will often rummage through a targets home
for hours, but very rarely will they do it in a neat and orderly
fashion. The most common "rummaging" targets are the backs of desk
drawers, the bottom of file cabinets, closets, and dresser drawers.
High Threat Business Situations
Anyone can be the target of covert eavesdropping, however; some people are under greater risk than others because of financial position, occupation, legal, or domestic situation.
You (or someone close to you) have been:
On a related note: If you work (or have worked) for any kind of military, governmental, law enforcement or judicial agency the possibility of you being targeted for eavesdropping is very high. Such eavesdropping can come from either side of the law, and is rarely legal or court sanctioned.
Additionally, people married to, associated with, divorced from, getting divorced from, dating, or getting intimate with a member of law enforcement, private security, PI, or any level of the judicial system should be concerned about illegal eavesdropping (yes, cops love to bug their wives and girlfriends).
Materials:
Manufacturing:
Information and Communications:
Biotechnology and Life Sciences:
Transportation:
Energy and Environment:
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