Protecting Your Privacy

Our right to privacy is something that is protected by law. However, rapid advances in covert surveillance technology have meant it is becoming ever easier for other people to listen to our private conversations. Aside from those people who just like to snoop on others the price that eavesdroppers can achieve in selling personal and business information also acts as a tempting incentive for conducting this unscrupulous practice.

Unfortunately the majority of listening devices used in covert surveillance are very hard to detect. They generally only become apparent to the eavesdropper's target once private personal or corporate information has been leaked.

Types of hidden listening devices

Most recently the biggest threat to privacy has come from mobile phone bugs. GSM (Global System for Mobile communications) devices use the mobile phone infrastructure and technology to relay sound to an eavesdropper based in a remote location. Due to the global nature of the mobile phone network it could allow a device being operated in London to be monitored from any location in the world.

Other bugging devices include radio bugging devices that tap into traditional telephone lines and record both sides of a conversation.

Fibre optic microphones are another form of intrusive listening device that the eavesdropper will set up in a room in order to collect very high quality audio. These are very hard to detect and require a highly trained bug sweeping team to find them out.

What to do if you discover a listening device

If you discover (or suspect) your privacy has been breached and information about you or your business has been leaked there are 6 steps to take towards securing your privacy and minimising the chance of further leaks.

Step 1. Do not discuss your discovery or suspicions in the area you believe is being bugged. If the spies think they might be found out they will cover their tracks and you will never know for certain.

Step 2. Do not use the device you think is being bugged. If you need to contact someone use a public phone somewhere else entirely. If your office is being bugged and there is one public phone box directly outside, assume this has been compromised too. Go a few streets away to find a public call box.

Step 3. Do not touch, remove or disturb any device you find. By tampering with the listening device you could alert the eavesdropper to your suspicions. This gives them ample opportunity to remove or reposition the bug (and other undiscovered bugs) before they can be found and dealt with by bug sweeping professionals.

Step 4. Do not discuss your discovery with anyone who you do not trust. Ideally you should only talk to the person(s) who would be directly involved in appointing bug sweeping experts to carry out an inspection.

Step 5. Secure the targeted area immediately. Do not use the area or item you believe is being bugged for important discussions. However, in certain circumstances it might be advisable to continue using the area for non-important discussions so as to prevent the eavesdroppers suspicions from becoming aroused.

Step 6. Contact a professional bug sweeping company to carry out a bug detection inspection. It is important that you do not try doing this yourselves as you may fail to successfully uncover all the devices that have been planted. Counter surveillance experts are well equipped and highly experienced in effectively discovering and dealing with bugging devices.

QCC Interscan are bug detection experts with a wealth of experience in carrying out effective bug sweeping services for an international client base.