These products are strictly taboo for the public to buy, sell, possess, or attempt to possess. It is actually more illegal to sell a real bug (in the United States) than it is to possess a kilo of cocaine.

This level of threat involves eavesdropping products strictly available only to law enforcement agencies, and then only when acting under an ACTIVE court order.

Most of the products operate on bands allocated for law enforcement activities, or bands specifically allocated for surveillance (and are fairly easy for the TSCM professional to detect).

This type of product (within the United States) is referred to a "T3" or "Tile III" device, and has a very narrow, and specific purpose which they are used.

Most beeper and cellular intercept or eavesdropping systems fall into this level of threat due to the highly restricted nature of such products.

Threats above this level are strictly those which involve national defense or intelligence interests. In other worlds, cops are not allowed to "play with toys" above this threat level (in almost any country).

The product is designed not to be detected during a typical TSCM sweep and will require a great deal of time to locate and identify. This type of threat always assumes that TSCM activities will be performed at the subject location.

This type of device is usually monitored by full time staff at a fixed command post. The eavesdroppers will typically have the target under intense physical surveillance and will be monitoring "guard-bands" to detect TSCM teams.

This type of threat is that commonly used when businessmen "bug" each other, and when "big dollars" are involved.

The equipment and training required to perform a TSCM inspection at this level is considerable. Firms offering TSCM services at this level typically charge between $3000 to $7500 for a limited sweep. This type of TSCM service typically requires at least a full day (often 2-3 days).

• Wireless Microphones
• Digital VLF Devices
• Covert Video Cameras
• LAN/WAN Eavesdropping Devices
• Bugged Copy Machines
• Bugged Fax Machines
• Bugged Computers and Monitors
• Modified Telephone, PBX, and Voice Mail Systems
• Cellular Interception Systems (Generally not detectable)
• Beeper/Pager Intercept Systems (Generally not detectable)

Technical Profile

• Frequencies typically between 3 kHz and 40 GHz
• Power levels typically between 250 nW and 100 mW
• Wide/Narrow band spread spectrum, burst and frequency hopping
• Infrared devices between 300nm to 1710nm
• Over 156 types of modulation used
• May use burst transmission
• Commonly uses a duplex link for remote control of device
• Heavy use of encryption using complex algorithms
• Heavy usage of digital modulation
• Very difficult to find
• Expensive and very high performance
• Designed for long term, high risk technical surveillance

Counter Measures

• Spectrum Analyser - DC to 40 GHz
• Vector Signal Analyzer - Very High Bandwidth
• Non Linear Junction Detector
• Search/Intercept Receivers
• Measuring Receivers
• Telephone Analyser
• Time Domain Reflectometer
• Portable X-Ray Equipment
• LAN/WAN Analysis Instruments
• Requires at least $750,000 in TSCM equipment to detect

Credentials

• Involves 40-60 days of highly specialized TSCM training
• Only about 500 people worldwide formally certified at this level
• Typical Interagency Training Center/Counter Intelligence Technician
• Roughly 43 private firms in the U.S. offer TSCM at this level

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 5 - Professional "Spy Shop" 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

Recommended U.S. TSCM Firms