Level 7 threats include those products used by the Signals Intelligence community, and may include radar analysis systems and communications intercept systems.

This equipment is typically used only by major defense or intelligence agencies and generally is not available to law enforcement.

While it is possible for the public to obtain "bits and pieces" of these products it will be impossible for them to assemble a fully operation system.

The "bits and pieces" of these are not normally classified, by instead the capabilities of the entire system is classified, or instead everything except a few specific "black boxes" are classified.

A good example are the thousands of Lockheed, Watkins-Johnson, TRW, and CSF "black boxes" sucked up by the Department of Defense each year.

The equipment may include special classified or unclassified battlefield communications systems, SATCOM systems, GPS systems, Avionics Systems, and so on. In the event that the minimal level of security around these products was compromised only minor damage or embarassment could result.

In the rare event that this type of threat is classified it is only a lower level type of classification such as FOUO, Confidential, or perhaps borderline Secret.

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.

• Frequencies typically between 3 kHz and 110 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
• Hundreds of modulation types and formats used
• Often uses burst transmission
• Commonly uses a duplex link for remote control of device
• Heavy use of encryption using classifed and complex algorithms
• Heavy usage of digital modulation
• Very difficult to find during a TSCM Sweep
• Expensive and very high performance
• Designed for long term, high risk technical surveillance

Counter Measures

• Spectrum Analyser - DC to 110 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 12 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 6 - Professional "Title 3" 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