Are You Under Surveillance?

Are You Under Surveillance? 25 Top Threats

This is a list of basic threat indicators for both legal and illegal surveillance efforts. For a more complete (free) guide, plus suggestions on eliminating in-place surveillance, visit www.intelligencehere.com A wireless camera hidden in a smoke detector, houseplant, bedside radio or baseball cap is no longer limited to shadowy CIA types skulking around chasing after the "new" KGB in a Mad Magazine Spy vs. Spy parody. "It's worse than ever, privacy is basically a thing of the past", says Lee Lapin, author of the How to Get Anything on Anybody book series and editor of "Breaching Security", an intelligence newsletter. "The intense proliferation of 'spy shops', both on the internet and in Mall storefronts are more than happy to provide perspective James Bonds with things "M" never even dreamed existed. Reverse peephole viewers, tiny fiber optics that can 'see' under a door or through a pinhole, a digital video recorder the size of a postage stamp are all on the open market. Ask Nicole Kidman after she was victimized by not one, but two separate hidden video cameras, installed in very private parts of her house. Even the Vatican was forced to employ a counter surveillance to maintain their intended veil of secrecy during the recent Papal conclave". According to Mr. Lapin, "1984 has come and gone but it's legacy lives on. Many defense lawyers, Hollywood studios and high tech businesses now include a portion of their budget for espionage countermeasures." Who wants you? Selling pounds of Peruvian Marching Powder out the back door? Bet on it… Cheating on the spouse? Divorce rearing (or reared), its ugly head? Not quite square with the IRS, or your business partner? You, or your firm involved with expensive, high profit, research heavy projects? Got nosy "friends"? Make a list… Surveillance falls into several general categories; ambient audio attacks, phone based interception, hidden video cameras and computer monitoring. One of the most common forms of electronic surveillance, and often the most productive is a phone based "intervention". Telephones distill both access and information, can intercept and pass on not only phone calls, but room audio. Phones provide unlimited power, a built-in transmission path and many points of "entry". Threats and Threat Indicators 1. The commonest form of phone surveillance is to install a "drop out relay" (also called a recorder starter) from any electronic hobby supplier. This device automatically senses any current drop and automatically starts a recorder when is lifted from its hook. Simple, no outward signs, a visual inspection will usually unearth this type of device. 2. VOX (voice activated recorder) attached to the phone line. Usually this type of attack produces few obvious warning signals. 3. A hook switch bypass or small remotely activated bug (developed in the 60's, called the "harmonica bug") which transmits room audio down the lines with the phone on-hook. May cause audio to emanate from the phone while still on-hook. 4. Hardwired phone tap. Transmits RF to a nearby receiver, can be attached anywhere on the line. Series units draw power; parallels need their own battery and thus have a limited life span. 5. Sounds emanate from your phone while the on hook 6. Strange noises (static, "popping" etc.) appear on your line during conversations. May be sign of cheap, "significant other" or private investigator installed recorder(s). Professional units will not produce this effect. 7. Unexplained volume changes during a conversation can also indicate a low-level eavesdropping invasion. 8. If your phone rings and there's nobody on the other end it may be an indication of a "slave". This type of device is utilized by law enforcement, as well as medium to high level amateurs. May also indicate (especially when dealing with small, local phone companies), a line test – this usually occurs late at night. 9. Your phone rings and a high-pitched tone is heard for a moment or two then nothing. Very likely a slave or loop extender has been installed on the line. Radio Frequency Bugs Although illegal to buy, use, or even possess they are readily available on the Internet and/or from English, Japanese, Italian and German manufacturers. Most international suppliers will gladly ship "across the pond". 10. Sudden or unexplained interface appears on a nearby radio (usually FM), or strange interference appears on your television set. 11. AC outlets have scratches on their mounting screws or have edges that don't precisely match the paint pattern of the wall. 12. Objects, particularly those plugged into the AC power suddenly "appear" or are given as a gift. Often items that you would normally place in your office (or bedroom). 13. Your house, or office appear to have been burglarized but very little was actually taken. Think – what was left behind? 14. Dry wall dust, small flecks of paint or bits of ceiling tile appears on the floor. 15. Your smoke detector, clock radio, wall socket extender has a small, neatly drilled hole in its surface. Usually indicates an added audio or video transmitter. Note video cameras can see through "black" glass. 16. Someone leaves a personal item behind, perhaps during a meeting, and later returns to claim the "lost" item. 17. Telephone, video, plumbers, copier or air conditioning service personal show up to "fix" something without being called. Always suspect the phrase "routine maintenance." 18. Furniture or office items appear to have been moved slightly. "Elephant tracks" are imbedded in the carpet. 19. The same or similar vehicles, especially vans, UPS, Fed EX, phone or electric company vehicles seem to spend a lot of time in the immediate area. Vans with tinted windows or top mounted air vents are parked nearby, but no one claims them. 20. Objects, in particular traffic cones, power or telephone transformers, even rusted mufflers (or chunks of asphalt) suddenly appear outside your windows. 21. New, non-requested charges appear on your phone bill, i.e., conference calling. 22. Someone gives, or loans you a cell phone. Especially one with GPS capabilities. 23. Infrared beams are being bounced off exterior windows to transmit interior audio. 24. Car(s) or motorcycles seem to be following you as you movement. 25. People seem to know where you have been when they shouldn't have this knowledge. Some general precautions include running at least two good anti-spyware programs on your computer on a regular basis, placing a very, very thin piece of clear plastic (Scotch) tape at the edge of your entry door frames (if the seal if broken, you need to look for entry evidence). Place the screws in wall sockets slightly askew DO NOT MARK THE WALL, use a thin coat of New Skin (a liquid plastic bandage) to cover the edges of screws, computer case fasteners, etc. Check for broken seals.

For additional information on the subject of this release, please view www.intelligencehere.com. Lee Lapin is a private detective, electronics engineer and certified voice stress analyst. He has been quoted as an expert in everything from People Magazine to the front page of the New York Times. He is the author of 23 books, including How To Get Anything on Anybody Book 3, which is known as the encyclopedia of personal invasion and serves as a textbook for the FBI and the KGB alike.

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