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Warning signs of covert eaves dropping or bugging

Qualification to lie for ...

Snooping on rivals is now big business

Warning Signs of Covert Eaves Dropping or Bugging

If several of these warning signs apply to you then it would be a very good idea to immediately contact VAN STADEN FORENSIC SERVICES and schedule an inspection, as you may be the target of covert eavesdropping or bugging activities.

When contacting please remember not to call from any suspect area or to use any suspect telephone.

1. Others know your confidential business or professional trade secrets.
   This is the most common indicator; theft of confidential information is a multi-Million Rand industry in South Africa. Often the loss of your secrets will show up in very subtle ways.
2. 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? How would you like to read about your company plans in the media? Competitors often hand over documents and information to news-starved journalists.
3. People seem to know your activities when they shouldn't.
4. You have noticed strange sounds or volume changes on your phone lines.
   Commonly caused by an amateur eavesdropper when they attaches the actual wiretap, or similar listening device. Surveillance devices often cause slight anomalies on the telephone line.
5. 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.
6. You can hear sounds coming from your phones handset when it's hung up.
   Typically caused by a hook switch bypass, which turns the telephone receiver into an eavesdropping microphone (and also a speaker). There is probably somebody listening to everything you say or do within six metres of the telephone (if this is happening).
7. Your phone often rings and nobody is there, or a very faint tone, or high-pitched squeal and beep are heard.
   This is a key 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.
8. Your radio has suddenly develops strange interference.
   Many amateur eavesdropping devices use frequencies within the FM radio band; these signals tend to "quiet" a FM radio in the vicinity of the bug. Look for the transmissions at far ends of the FM radio band, and at any quiet area along the FM band. If the radio begins to squeal then slowly move it around the room until the sound become very high pitched to locate the bug (this is referred to as feedback detection or loop detection and will often locate the bug). The "Stereo" function should be turned off so the radio is operating in "Mono" as this will provide a serious increase in sensitivity.
9. Your television or radio has suddenly developed strange interference.
   Television broadcast frequencies are often used to cloak an 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. A small handheld television with a collapsible antenna may be used to sweep a room. Carefully watch for interference around channel numbers 2, 7, 13, 14, 66, 67, and 68, as these frequencies are popular with eavesdroppers.
10. 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 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.
11. 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, 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 colour or appearance of the power outlets and/or light switches as these are often swapped out by an eavesdropper.
12. A small-sized discoloration has suddenly appeared on the wall.
    Tell tale sign that a pinhole microphone or video camera has been recently installed.
    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.
13. 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.
14. 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, and Lamps.
15. 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.
16. Small pieces of ceiling tiles, or “grit” are noticed on the floor, or on the surface area of your desk.
    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 in the ceiling tiles and amateur spies always tend to crack or damage acoustical tiles.
17. You notice that "TELKOM" trucks and utilities workers are spending a lot of time near your home or office doing repair work.
    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.
18. Service or delivery trucks are often parked nearby with nobody 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 UNO, Panel Van, Bakkie, Mini-Bus, or Cargo Van. Look for any vehicle, which could conceal a person in the back or has tinted windows.
19. 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. Always use 5-lever Lock. Use good quality window bars on all windows, and a good quality door bar on all doors not used as a primary entry doors.
20. 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.
21. 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.