Technical Surveillance Threat Levels
Technical Surveillance Threat Levels
Level 5 - Professional Spy Shop Products
Level five threats are mostly the products sold by spy shops and involve mostly simple audio transmitters, and low quality video transmitters. These products are fairly low quality, but incredibly expensive. The products are quasi-legal in some countries (German, Japan, England, Canada, etc.) but quite illegal in the United States.
This level of threat is commonly found with law enforcement surveillance "groupies and newbies" but a professional spy will avoid using such products as they are very easy to a TSCM'er find during a sweep.
This level of threat is usually equipment and devices specifically modified for use in covert surveillance.Generally nothing more than low cost modified consumer electronic devices such as Wave-Com video transmitters, or consumer band wireless microphones.
Often level 5 devices are actually level 1, 2, or 3 devices which have been re-tuned, modified, and/or placed into a concealment device (ie: fanny pack, eyeglasses case, lamp or clock radio).
The primary indicator of a level 5 device is the smaller size and the method of concealment (usually inside another electronic device).
Equipment will typically operate on well known "spy shop" or "ham" bands of frequencies, and often on consumer band frequencies.
Equipment used for taping phone lines will usually use parasitic power draw, and are very simple to detect. If the line is isolated the isolation circuit will be fairly crude and easily detected.
The equipment and training required to perform a TSCM inspection at this level is minimal, and the cost for this type of service is moderate. Firms offering TSCM services at this level typically charge between $1000 to $1500 for a limited sweep. This type of TSCM service usually takes less than six hours.
Technical Profile
Counter Measures
Credentials
Typical Suppliers
Other Eavesdropping Threat Levels
Level 1 - Common Consumer Products and Toys
Level 2 - Amateur and Consumer Communications Products
Level 3 - Amateur Eavesdropping Products
Level 4 - Restricted Professional 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
How To Engage a TSCM Firm
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