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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 Advanced Intelligence Group 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.
Are you a
potential target? If eavesdropping on anything you say, write, or do could
increase someone else's wealth or influence, then the answer must be yes, you
are a potential target.
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Others
know your confidential business or professional trade secrets.
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.
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Secret
meetings and bids seem to be less than secret.
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?
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People seem
to know your activities when they shouldn't.
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You have
noticed strange sounds or volume changes on your phone lines.
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. On the other hand you could simply be experiencing a flaw in
the line, but you should check it out.
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You have
noticed static, popping, or scratching on your phone lines.
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.
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Sounds
are coming from your phones handset when it's hung up.
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).
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Your
phone often rings and nobody is there, or a very faint tone, or high pitched
squeal/beep is heard for a fraction of a second.
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).
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You can
hear a tone on your line when your phone is on the hook (by using an external
amplifier).
To check for something like this you would have to obtain a "recorder starter"
interface (with a VOX option). 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).
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Your
AM/FM radio has suddenly developed strange interference.
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. If you find this then immediately
contact a TSCM team and get them to your location FAST.
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Your car
radio suddenly starts "getting weird"
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).
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Your
television has suddenly developed strange interference.
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).
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You have
been the victim of a burglary, but nothing was taken.
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.
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Electrical wall plates appear to have been moved slightly or "jarred".
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.
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A
dime-sized discoloration has suddenly appeared on the wall or ceiling.
This is a tell tale sign that a pinhole microphone or small covert video
camera has been recently installed.
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One of
your vendors just gave you any type of electronic device such as a desk radio,
alarm clock, lamp, small TV, boom box, CD player, and so on.
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.
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A small
bump or deformation has appeared on the vinyl baseboard near the floor.
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.
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The
smoke detector, clock, lamp, or exit sign in your office or home looks
slightly crooked, has a small hole in the surface, or has a quasi reflective
surface.
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.
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Certain
types of items have "just appeared" in your office of home, but nobody seems
to know how they got there.
Typical items to watch for and beware of are: clocks, exit signs, sprinkler
heads, radios, picture frames, and lamps.
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White
dry-wall dust or debris is noticed on the floor next to the wall.
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.
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You
notice small pieces of ceiling tiles, or "grit" on the floor, or on the
surface area of your desk. Also, you may observe a cracked, chipped, or gouged
ceiling tiles, or ones that are sagging, or not properly set into the track.
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 of 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.
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You
notice that "Phone Company" trucks and utilities workers are spending a lot of
time near your home or office doing repair work.
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).
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Telephone, cable, plumbing, or air conditioning repair people show up to do
work when no one called them.
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.
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Service
or delivery trucks are often parked nearby with nobody (you can see) in them.
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.
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Your
door locks suddenly don't "feel right", they suddenly start to get "sticky",
or they completely fail.
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.
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Furniture has been moved slightly, and no one knows why.
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.
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Things
"seem" to have been rummaged through, but nothing is missing (at least that
you noticed).
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.
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An
eavesdropper sends you a copy of your private conversations.
As simple as it seems this is the strongest indicator, and solid proof of
eavesdropping. An eavesdropper will sometimes send a victim a copy of a
private conversation they intercepted in an attempt at blackmail, or in an
attempt to terrorize, or to just stalk the victim. This is commonly seen in
civil lawsuits, criminal court cases, marital problems, shareholder disputes,
custody battles, and other situations were one side has a position of weakness
and is trying to physiologically undermine their opponent.

If you feel any of these apply to you and you wish to schedule a
TSCM Sweep
or speak with a TSCM specialist please call us 24 hours a day at:
1-888-588-5899
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