Threat Level 3 - Amateur Eavesdropping Products

Technical Surveillance Threat Levels

Level 3 - Amateur Eavesdropping Products

At this level of threat some of the products become borderline illegal. This includes many of the transmitter kits, telephone bug kits, and similar devices sold out of the back of electronics magazines and at a few electronics stores. While possession or usage of these products is quite illegal (as per federal law) the manufactures operate in a legal gray area which results in periodic raids by law enforcement.

Within the US these products are typically low power products which operated inside the parameters detailed in 47 CFR, Part 15 for low power non-licensed devices.

There is quite a bit of "Nudge-Nudge, Wink-Wink" that goes on with these products, and it is "understood" that most of the products are actually being used for illegal surveillance.

The equipment will usually operate on specific consumer band frequencies. Heavy usage of 49 Mhz, 88-108, 143, 171, 470, 900-925 MHz bands.

Generally limited to frequencies below 1 GHz. Limited usage of the 2.4 GHz band, involving mostly Wavecom or Trango video transmitters which are very simple to detect.

Equipment used for taping phone lines typically contain parasitic power draw, and are very simple to detect with a simple volt-ohm meter test. Eavesdropping equipment is typically applied to the telephone service access point inside the target, or at the service box at the side of the building. Actual penetration of the distribution cable is rare.

Since the equipment and training required to perform a TSCM inspection at this level is minimal, the cost for this type of service is very low. Firms offering TSCM services this level typically charge between $150 to $750 for an entire sweep (but remember you get what you pay for). This level of TSCM service usually takes between four and six hours, with a legitimate firm charging around $250 per hour.

Wireless Microphones
Intercom Systems
Baby Monitors
Tape Recorders
Recorder Starter Relays
Inexpensive Microphones
Video Cameras
Camcorders
Related electronic devices which are really nothing more than consumer toys and gadgets.
Commonly used by spouses spying on each other

Technical Profile

Frequencies typically between 150 kHz and 2.5 GHz (but most below 1 GHz)
Power levels typically below 250 mW
Narrow Band Spread Spectrum ISM bands may be used (but it is limited)
Wide band spread spectrum, burst or frequency hopping is rarely used
Infrared devices clustered around 900 nm
AM, NFM, WFM Modulation
Little or no usage of encryption or inversion scrambling (typically Barker PN codes, and related well known and easily decoded methods)
Very high harmonic components
Inefficient circuitry, but very low cost

Counter Measures

Digital Multimeter
Handheld/Pocket RF Field Detectors
Near Field Detectors
Feedback Detectors
Requires less then $1500 in TSCM equipment to detect

Credentials

Involves 5 days of TSCM training (typically only 1 or 2 weeks)
Over 50,000 people worldwide working at this level
Over 4,500 private firms in the U.S. offer TSCM at this level
Half of the firms offering service at this level are mostly private investigators
One fourth of the remaining firms are "security" consulting firms
The remaining fourth are con artists, felons, spy shops, and crooks who will say or do anything to separate you from your cash (usually thousands of dollars).
Every major U.S. city has at least 50 firms who operate at this level (but most are not legitimate)

Other Eavesdropping Threat Levels

Level 1 - Common Consumer Products and Toys

Level 2 - Amateur and Consumer Communications Products

Level 4 - Restricted Professional Products

Level 5 - Professional "Spy Shop" Products

Level 6 - Professional "Title 3" Products

Level 7 - Signals Intelligence Products

Level 8 - Intelligence Agency Eavesdropping Threats

Level 9 - National Security Eavesdropping Threats

Level X - Hypothetical, Misunderstood, or Delusional Threats