Radio Bugging Devices
The threats posed by traditional radio-based bugging devices is still very real and present.
Telephone line eavesdropping still uses radio based technology to transmit both sides of a conversation to an eavesdropper or recording device. Radio based room or telephone transmitters have fallen in price significantly in recent years whilst the quality and stability of these devices has risen.
Eavesdroppers use radio bugging devices as the intelligence is received in real time and is of a very high quality. Microphone technology and high gain circuit design enable these devices to pick up the slightest sound within a room up to 7 metres away from the installed bug.
Types of Radio-Based Bugging Devices
Radio based bugging devices are widely available and can be as cheap as £20 for a common FM device and range up to several thousand pounds for a sophisticated device employing complex modulation. Many such devices can also store the audio received and transmit the information in small bursts. Bugging devices employ this type of high technology to evade detection and avoid giving off signatures that are detectable by conventional radio scanning devices and equipment.
Most devices commonly sold in the UK are crystal controlled FM devices costing around £50 to £200. In recent years the amount of digital devices available has increased dramatically. Radio based bugs however may also be made by modifying existing technology such as radio intercoms, analogue cordless telephones and baby monitors.
The size of radio based bugging devices ranges from simple low power devices around the size of a kidney bean, up to large high powered digital or spread spectrum devices that may be the size of a one litre drinks carton. These radio bugging devices may be powered by batteries or may be wired directly into the mains power supply for constant operation.
Battery powered devices require good battery management in order to prolong the life of the device or cut down the amount of onsite visits by the eavesdropper to service the device. If a device is mains powered it will operate or remain in place until the device is removed or is discovered.
Radio based eavesdropping devices can also be remote controlled being turn on and off when required. In order to save battery power or to avoid transmission when no usable audio is required radio bugging devices can also employ VOX circuits that will force the device off or in to a low power mode when no audio is present in the room. When the device hears room audio the device switches on and starts transmitting, this in turn can operate a recorder that is attached to the receiver. This saves on battery life and unwanted transmissions. In addition only room audio is recorded onto the storage media avoiding long periods of recording an empty room.
Detecting Radio-Based Devices
QCC Interscan has discovered radio based devices in many different locations and client situations, radio based bugs are sometimes used to transmit audio a short distance within a building where the signal is then recorded or relayed onto other transmission mediums such as land line telephones or GSM devices.
Radio based bugging devices come in many forms and price ranges and are still a very popular choice for unauthorised audio surveillance. This type of attack is particularly favoured by internal staff wishing to gain internal information on company business.
Most expensive types of radio bugging devices can be very difficult to detect unless high quality equipment and experienced staff are used to complete a TSCM assignment.
Most sweep teams equipment will not be able to demodulate (listen) to the audio from digital/spread spectrum/ frequency hopping or burst transmitters, however good quality equipment operated by experienced staff will be able to detect and map the transmissions from these devices and locate bugging technology using these types of techniques.
Our expert teams and specialist equipment enable us to effectively detect and disable radio-based bugging devices. Contact QCC Interscan today on +44 (0) 20 7353 9000 for more information.
Incident Response - Act Now
Act now if you suspect that you are under surveillance.
1. Cease all sensitive communications.
2. Remove yourself from the target area
3. Call QCC Interscan from a payphone on +44 (0)20 7353 9000
Technical Surveillance Counter Measures (TSCM)
QCC Interscan has been providing world class TSCM (bug sweeping) services to UK and Global clients since 1997.
Protecting your business from covert surveillance threats makes economic sense. We conduct professional and effective counter surveillance assignments to keep vour valuable information safe from prying eyes.
TSCM, also known as bug sweeping or counter surveillance, is the process of electronically and physically inspecting offices, buildings, vehicles, telephone systems and cabling for the presence of eavesdropping devices.
Read more...High Net Worth Individuals
QCC has particular experience dealing with the surveillance and privacy concerns of high level company executives, celebrities and high net worth individuals. Our specialist services include TSCM (bug sweeping) services, covering residential sites and executive vehicles. We also have extensive knowledge in performing security inspections and review services for ocean going yachts, private planes, and executive motor vehicles. QCC can also supply a range of products to further secure important individuals.
To discuss these and other executive protection services please call +44(0) 207 353 9000.
Read more...Specialist Vehicle Search
As part of our security inspection service for high profile company executives and high net worth individuals, we offer an extended security inspection service for executive vehicles. This includes all types of yachts, executive cars, limousines and private executive jets.
In the past few years QCC Interscan have completed increasing numbers of counter surveillance inspections and physical security reviews globally of numerous marine vessels, executive jets and company vehicles.
Physical Security Review
QCC Interscan offers clients an expert assessment service of the physical security arrangements for their business premises and assets.
This service inspects and reports on all aspects of physical security including locks, access control, CCTV, waste management, executive transportation and asset protection. The physical security review will also cover particular areas clients direct our attention to.
After conducting the security review, we provide clients with a full written report outlining the physical security arrangements in place and any findings and recommendations relating to the security of the areas or assets inspected.
Your security report
Your report can be used to specify the installation of necessary security architecture to protect premises and assets.
Additionally, the report is invaluable in highlighting vulnerabilities with the existing security arrangements or as a tool in formulating a physical security standard for use within your organisation.
For more information or to discuss how our Physical Security Review Service can assist your business please contact us on +44 (0) 20 7353 9000.
Tiger Testing Services
Tiger Testing is a special type of vulnerability test that originated in the United States Air Force who use it to test air base defences. The personnel who perform such testing are referred to as the Tiger Team.
Commercial Tiger Testing
Commercial Tiger Tests are beneficial to companies and organisations to highlight true physical, procedural or technical vulnerability and are especially useful in the maintenance of particularly valuable assets.
The aim of our Tiger Test is not to discover vulnerabilities but to gain unauthorised access to specified assets or areas of a business or organisation. Only then are the processes used to acquire those assets analysed, vulnerabilities assessed and suitable countermeasures implemented.
We maintain the original idea of the Tiger Test but apply this idea specifically to ‘Information and Assets’. Once a Client has specified which information or assets are ‘Target Assets’ (TAs), we use whatever non-violent means that would be reasonably available to a covert agent to try and acquire that Target Asset. Our experts backgrounds means that they are particularly well suited to perform specialist Tiger Testing.
QCC Interscan has deployed many Tiger Teams to evaluate and test a company or organisations security arrangements. This normally occurs before or after the commissioning of a review and evaluation program of physical security.
For more information on the benefits and procedures involved in Tiger Testing please contact QCC Interscan on +44 (0) 20 7353 9000.
Read more...GSM Telephone Evaluation
QCC Interscan has a dedicated telephone forensics unit offering an exclusive service to clients who are worried that their personal mobile telephones are being secretly monitored.
Many spy shops and on line surveillance equipment suppliers offer software packages that monitor mobile telephone conversations and text messages by an unauthorised agent. These phone bugging software packages are very difficult to detect without specialist equipment and knowledge.
As part of a TSCM program, QCC Interscan can inspect mobile telephones with our portable telephone forensic equipment.
In addition we offer a separate service that evaluates phones sent to us at our central London laboratory. After forensic evaluation we return the mobile phone via secure post with a full written report of the findings of the forensic analysis.
For more information on GSM telephone analysis contact QCC Interscan on +44 (0) 20 7353 9000.
Installing permanent bug detectors
New for 2010.
We can now offer a complete solution to large clients with the highest level anti-bugging requirements.
If your organisation requires a higher level of security than that afforded by regular manual TSCM sweeps, then talk to us about our newly developed systems for 'permanent, always-on radio and GSM bug detectors.'
Using advanced multiband detection our system allows individual rooms, office suites or entire buildings to be covered with a permanent bug sweeping umbrella, constantly monitoring and reporting on unauthorised eavesdropping.
Call us today to discuss whether this advanced option will suit your organisation's needs.
Read more...
High profile sports organisations
Sport is big business and high profile organisations and venues can be as much a genuine target for information thieves as any major multi-national corporation. Knowledge of the discussions that take place in a premier division football club's boardroom could be used by gamblers, conmen, newspapers, agents and rival clubs to make fortunes.
Read more...
