Electronic bug sweep Miami Beach Coral Gables

Electronic bug sweep Miami Beach Coral Gables.

Electronic bug sweep Miami Beach Coral Gables

Electronic bug sweep Miami Beach Coral Gables

TSCM (technical surveillance counter-measures) is the original United States Federal government abbreviation denoting the process of electronic bug sweeping or electronic counter surveillance. It is related to ELINT, SIGINT and electronic countermeasures (ECM). Electronic bug sweep Miami Beach Coral Gables.

Technical surveillance countermeasures or TSCM sweeps in Miami Beach Coral Gables are known by many different names, electronic bug sweeping, TSCM Inspections or electronic counter-surveillance etc. really they are all one in the same thing, an electronic and physical check or inspection of a room, building, area or vehicle. Electronic bug sweep Miami Beach Coral Gables. For ease, we will refer to these services as a TSCM Sweep.

The United States Department of Defense defines a TSCM survey as a service provided by qualified personnel to detect the presence of technical surveillance devices and hazards and to identify technical security weaknesses that could aid in the conduct of a technical penetration of the surveyed facility. Electronic bug sweep Miami Beach Coral Gables. A TSCM survey will provide a professional evaluation of the facility’s technical security posture and normally will consist of a thorough visual, electronic, and physical examination in and about the surveyed facility.

This definition is, however, lacking some of the technical scope involved. COMSEC (communications security), ITSEC (information technology security) and physical security are also a major part of the work in the modern environment. Electronic bug sweep Miami Beach Coral Gables. The advent of multimedia devices and remote control technologies allow huge scope for the removal of massive amounts of data in very secure environments by the staff employed within, with or without their knowledge.

Electronic bug sweep Miami Beach Coral Gables

Electronic bug sweep Miami Beach Coral Gables

Technical Surveillance Countermeasures (TSCM) can best be defined as the systematic physical and electronic examination of a designated area by properly trained, qualified and equipped persons in an attempt to discover electronic eavesdropping devices, security hazards or security weaknesses in Miami Beach Coral Gables. Electronic bug sweep Miami Beach Coral Gables.

Most bugs transmit information in Miami Beach Coral Gables, whether data, video, or voice, through the air by using radio waves. The standard counter-measure for bugs of this nature is to search for such an attack with a radio frequency (RF) receiver. Electronic bug sweep Miami Beach Coral Gables. Lab and even field-quality receivers are very expensive and a good, working knowledge of RF theory is needed to operate the equipment effectively. Counter-measures like burst transmission and spread spectrum make detection more difficult. Electronic bug sweep Miami Beach Coral Gables.

The timing of detection surveys and location scans is critical to success and varies with the type of location being scanned in Miami Beach Coral Gables. Electronic bug sweep Miami Beach Coral Gables. For permanent facilities, scans and surveys must take place during working hours to detect remotely switchable devices that are turned off during non-working hours to defeat detection.

Devices that do not emit radio waves. Electronic bug sweep Miami Beach Coral Gables.

Instead of transmitting conversations, bugs may record them. Bugs that do not emit radio waves are very difficult to detect, though there are a number of options for detecting such bugs.

Very sensitive equipment could be used to look for magnetic fields, or for the characteristic electrical noise emitted by the computerized technology in digital tape recorders; however, if the place being monitored has many computers, photocopiers, or other pieces of electrical equipment installed, it may become very difficult. Items such as audio recorders can be very difficult to detect using electronic equipment. Electronic bug sweep Miami Beach Coral Gables. Most of these items will be discovered through a physical search.

Electronic bug sweep Miami Beach Coral Gables

Electronic bug sweep Miami Beach Coral Gables

Another method is using very sensitive thermal cameras to detect the residual heat of a bug, or power supply, that may be concealed in a wall or ceiling. Electronic bug sweep Miami Beach Coral Gables. The device in Miami Beach Coral Gables is found by locating a hotspot the device generates that can be detected by the thermal camera.

A method does exist to find hidden recorders in Miami Beach Coral Gables, as these typically use a well-known frequency for the clock which can never be totally shielded. A combination of existing techniques and resonance electronic sweeps can often pick up even a defunct or “dead” bug in this way by measuring recent changes in the electromagnetic spectrum. Electronic bug sweep Miami Beach Coral Gables.

Hidden spy cameras and listening devices in your office or home from Miami Beach Coral Gables can be discovered if you understand how to electronically sweep for bugs.  These eavesdropping devices can provide your competitors or enemies with confidential, private information that can cause serious damage.  Electronic bug sweep Miami Beach Coral Gables. Electronic Sweeping for bugs can be difficult if you are not an expert in counter-surveillance techniques.  If you are particularly vulnerable to being spied upon you should always seek out an experienced professional to sweep for bugs.

Even though you may not be an expert, there are a number of steps that you can take, and warning signs to be aware of, prior to hiring professional bug sweep services. Electronic bug sweep Miami Beach Coral Gables.

TSCM is a specialized area in Miami Beach Coral Gables, and performing an electronic sweep requires expensive equipment that needs regular updating. As a result, sweeps can be pricey, although not as pricey as the losses from a bugged office. Electronic bug sweep Miami Beach Coral Gables. Many firms charge more than $10,000 for one floor of an office building. Therefore, you may want to limit the scope of the sweep to especially sensitive areas such as corporate management offices, boardrooms, etc. If you take this approach, it is important to remember to limit sensitive discussions to the “cleared” areas.

When researching vendors, ask about the equipment and techniques they use. Legitimate TSCM firms are up front about their techniques and technology. Electronic bug sweep Miami Beach Coral Gables. To find out if a potential vendor is legitimate, ask for references and seek out recommendations in Miami Beach Coral Gables. Your local chapter of the FBI InfraGard or Secret Service Electronics Crimes Task Force may be a good place to start. Industry associations, such as the American Society for Industrial Security (ASIS), may also be of help.

To help weed out the wannabes, let’s take a closer look at five basic technologies used by genuine TSCM operators in Miami Beach Coral Gables:

RF detection in Miami Beach Coral Gables.

Electronic bug sweep Miami Beach Coral Gables

Electronic bug sweep Miami Beach Coral Gables

Some surveillance devices use radio frequency (RF) transmissions to carry their signals to the listener. To find these, TSCM analysts use an RF analyzer like REI’s OSCOR (Omni-Spectral Correlator). The OSCOR absorbs the RF transmissions in an area and uses a built-in database to filter out those known to be legitimate, such as TV and radio stations. The remaining transmissions are presented to an operator for analysis to determine if they pose a threat. Electronic bug sweep Miami Beach Coral Gables. The OSCOR is also used to store a profile of the radio frequency environment of the location. During later sweeps, comparing the record of the previous environment with a new set of signals can quickly point to potential problems.

Detection of electronics.

More sophisticated surveillance devices can be turned on and off as needed in Miami Beach Coral Gables. When a bug is turned off, it does not transmit any RF signals and is, therefore, invisible to RF detection devices. In order to find these stealthy devices, the TSCM professional will turn to a NonLinear Junction Detector (NLJD).

Electronic bug sweep Miami Beach Coral Gables.The NLJD looks a bit like one of those metal detectors they used to sell in the back of comic books. It works by sending out RF signals tuned to cause the semiconductors in electronic devices to resonate, even if they are powered off. During a sweep, the TSCM operator passes the NLJD over every surface in the office, looking for electronics in places where they should not be.

Heat can be another telltale sign that electronics are present in Miami Beach Coral Gables. Because small heat variations may point to a power supply, a TSCM toolkit should include a thermal imager, which the operator uses to scan the office and objects in it. If hotspots are found in unlikely places, a manual inspection is conducted to determine if they are from suspect devices. Electronic bug sweep Miami Beach Coral Gables.

Phone and power lines are also popular places for the placement of surveillance devices. Phone lines provide power, access to conversations and other information, and a way for attackers to receive information. Electronic bug sweep Miami Beach Coral Gables. Power lines can provide power to devices hidden in electrical outlets and transmit information out of the area under surveillance. The TSCM operator will use equipment to detect anomalous behavior on these lines, such as voltage drops or the presence of subcarriers.

Electronic bug sweep Miami Beach Coral Gables

Electronic bug sweep Miami Beach Coral Gables

Some surveillance devices may use infrared light to transmit their signals back to an attacker. An infrared viewer may reveal the presence of these devices. The TSCM operator scans the area looking for questionable IR sources and then investigates them further manually. Electronic bug sweep Miami Beach Coral Gables.

Like other forms of security testing, TSCM sweeps in Miami Beach Coral Gables provide you with a snapshot of conditions at a particular time. For continued assurance that your offices are “clean” of surveillance devices, you’ll need to repeat sweeps periodically. Most vendors provide some sort of “volume discount” for annual or biannual services. Electronic bug sweep Miami Beach Coral Gables.

How To Sweep For Bugs in your office or home in Miami Beach Coral Gables

1) Be aware of individuals that seem to have information which should be confidential. If competitors, adversaries or employees have knowledge of private information you should consider how they might have obtained such information. Electronic bug sweep Miami Beach Coral Gables.

2) Watch for unauthorized or unrequested visits from technicians checking phone lines, computers, HVAC or other equipment, exterminators, inspectors, etc.  Electronic bug sweep Miami Beach Coral Gables. Buggers will frequently use this type of ploy to gain access to your premises to install bugging devices.

3) Be wary of gifts received from anyone you don’t know well, or received under suspicious circumstances.  Electronic bug sweep Miami Beach Coral Gables. Gifts can easily be disguised to contain spy cameras or listening devices.  Have the items checked by a technical surveillance countermeasures expert who can sweep them for bugs before bringing them into an area where private conversations occur.

4) Watch out for suspicious vehicle activity at your office, near your home, or while driving.  Service trucks, vans, vehicles with tinted windows and panel trucks can allow a person to sit and monitor listening devices without raising suspicion.  Electronic bug sweep Miami Beach Coral Gables. Vehicles that remain for many hours or vehicles that appear repeatedly should be considered suspect.

5) Listen for unusual noises on your phone lines. Clicks pops, scratching noises, volume changes or echoes can be a sign that listening devices may be installed.  Electronic bug sweep Miami Beach Coral Gables. If your phone makes noises while being on the hook, there is a great probability that a bugging device is present.  Interference with radios and televisions can also indicate the presence of transmitters nearby.  If your radio makes squealing noises, move the radio around the room to see if the noise gets louder or changes pitch.  This can be caused by feedback from a listening device

6) An electronic sweep for bugs in Miami Beach Coral Gables will always include a thorough physical inspection of the room for anything that seems out of place.  Items such as wall switches, light fixtures, smoke alarms, clocks, exit signs, outlet plates, etc should be carefully examined it see if they appear new or jarred out of place.  Electronic bug sweep Miami Beach Coral Gables. Examine all such items for tiny holes.  Be aware of furniture, pictures, and decor that may be out of place or askew.  Intruders installing listening devices are often unable to replace things in exactly the same location, so being aware of your surroundings may help you detect if something has been changed.

7) Closely examine floors, tables, and furniture for unusual debris.  Installing bugging devices often requires moving ceiling tiles or drilling small holes in walls or ceilings, which can leave behind a small amount of dust, powder or shavings.  Electronic bug sweep Miami Beach Coral Gables. Check and replace ceiling tiles that are chipped, cracked or broken so you will be able to tell if they are tampered with.  Often times you can tell by the natural discoloration of ceiling tiles whether it has been moved recently.

8) If you deal with sensitive information on a regular basis you should have a technical surveillance countermeasures expert sweep for bugs on a regular basis.  Electronic bug sweep Miami Beach Coral Gables. You should also contact a TSCM expert sweep for bugs whenever you suspect that there may be a problem.  You need to be vigilant to detect bugs on your premises before information thieves can obtain information that can destroy your business or personal life.

Electronic bug sweep Miami Beach Coral Gables

Electronic bug sweep Miami Beach Coral Gables

Present and future espionage threats. Electronic bug sweep Miami Beach Coral Gables.

The last fifteen years eavesdropping devices have got smaller and smaller as surface mount technology has got cheaper; batteries too have become more stable and of course smaller. Electronic bug sweep Miami Beach Coral Gables.

$300 will now by you a GSM double plug socket transmitter; capable of being in situ for many years and monitored anywhere in the world. Electronic bug sweep Miami Beach Coral Gables.

The only saving grace with GSM devices is that due to the terror attacks of Al Qaeda and timed or sequenced Improvised Explosive Devices (IED’s) SIM Cards that are unregistered have become harder to purchase in many western countries. So at least SIM Cards are becoming more attributable. Electronic bug sweep Miami Beach Coral Gables.

Those designing bugging devices have become more intelligent with an emphasis on burying the device within a functioning electronic device, such as a monitor. Electronic bug sweep Miami Beach Coral Gables. These devices normally GSM transmitters are hard wired and almost impossible to find.

What is the future of bugging or eavesdropping devices in Miami Beach Coral Gables? I think that the high end of the market will see more intelligent devices that will be harder and harder to detect, programmable to sleep with masked heat signature and they will, of course, keep getting smaller. Electronic bug sweep Miami Beach Coral Gables.

The lower end of the market keeps growing with cheaper electronic devices almost a novelty. Electronic bug sweep Miami Beach Coral Gables. A quick internet search for “bugging device” will demonstrate the vast variety of website offering cheap yet functioning eavesdropping devices.

“It’s not about how expensive the bugging device or how experienced the user, it’s about the potential damaged caused”. Electronic bug sweep Miami Beach Coral Gables.

TSCM Teams. Electronic bug sweep Miami Beach Coral Gables.

A professional TSCM service provider should be able to provide you with a full team of operatives each bringing a different skill set or range of qualifications. If your TSCM firm arrives and it’s one bloke with a few pieces of equipment; then you have made the wrong choices. Electronic bug sweep Miami Beach Coral Gables.

Electronic bug sweep Miami Beach Coral Gables

Electronic bug sweep Miami Beach Coral Gables

A TSCM team should comprise of a Team Leader from a solid intelligence or military intelligence background with an understanding of present technology and threats. Ideally (dependant on the size of the task) an electronic sweep team should comprise of a qualified electrician (to check electrics, ducting, fitting and sockets) and also a qualified telecommunications engineer to check telephone lines to the point where the lines enter the building. Electronic bug sweep Miami Beach Coral Gables.

How should a TSCM sweep take place?. Electronic bug sweep Miami Beach Coral Gables.

Exactly how a TSCM Sweep takes place is very much dependent on the topography of the building and how it is laid out, how many floors, open office space etc.

Ideally going into the target building at night when there are no workers in the building, normally the TSCM Team would set up in a central location on each individual floor that requires electronic sweeping (in the case of a rural residence, one location is sufficed). Electronic bug sweep Miami Beach Coral Gables.

TSCM Equipment. Electronic bug sweep Miami Beach Coral Gables.

A TSCM Team should employ different TSCM equipment, each piece of equipment carrying out a specific role. As standard you would expect any TSCM firm worth its salt to be using a spectrum analyzer such as the OSCOR Green, a state of the art electronic countermeasures receiver sweeping from 10 kHz to 24GHz in seconds.

The purpose of the OSCOR Green is to survey the given area and produce a spectrogram of receiver traces; i.e. it maps all the frequencies transmitting (between 10 kHz to 24GHz) in that given area. Electronic bug sweep Miami Beach Coral Gables. Based on this survey an operative can then go about analyzing the results looking for possible suspicious transmissions, ruling out “normal” background traffic.

Over and above a spectrum analyzer survey a team should also be looking for redundant, hardwired devices, covertly placed recording devices (such as Dictaphones) or devices that are piggybacking on or off the back of genuine electronic devices (such as telephone lines or computers). Electronic bug sweep Miami Beach Coral Gables. To look for these devices both a physical and technical inspection is required; often employing equipment such as a NonLinear Junction Detector. This looks for and detects circuitry used within circuit boards or microphones that are or are not powered at that time, i.e. “Passive devices”.

There are many, many other types of equipment in Miami Beach Coral Gables that can and should be deployed on a TSCM electronic Sweep; from Thermal imaging cameras to look for heat signatures of devices buried within walls or soft furnishings to GSM specific devices such as SEARCHLIGHT. Electronic bug sweep Miami Beach Coral Gables. This is a dedicated GSM/UMTS detection and location system, designed to identify the IMEI of the SIM card and can quickly distinguish between legitimate or authorized mobile phones and GSM bugging devices transmitting within the given target area. Zip Code Miami: 33101, 33109, 33125, 33126, 33127, 33128, 33129, 33130, 33131, 33132, 33133, 33134, 33135, 33136, 33138, 33139, 33142, 33144, 33145, 33146, 33147, 33149, 33150.

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