Could I be the victim of spying? Consider it a possibility when:

Others know your confidential business or professional trade secrets. This is the most obvious indicator of covert eavesdropping activities. Often the loss of your secrets will show up in very subtle ways so you should always trust your instincts in this matter. When your

competitors know things that are obviously private, or the media finds out about things they should not know, then it is reasonable to suspect technical eavesdropping or bugging and a bug sweep is highly recommended.

Secret meetings and bids seem to be less than secret.

People seem to know your activities when they shouldn't.

You have noticed strange sounds or volume changes on your phone lines. This is

commonly caused by an amateur eavesdropper when they attach a wiretap, or activate a similar listening device. Surveillance devices often cause slight anomalies on the telephone line such a volume shift or drop-out. Professional eavesdroppers and their equipment usually do not make such noises; so if this is going on it could indicate that an amateur eavesdropper is listening in. On the other hand you could simply be experiencing a flaw in the line, but you should have it checked out.

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. It could be nothing more then a problem with your phone line or handset.

Sounds are coming from your phones handset when it's hung up.

Your phone often rings and no one is there, or a very faint tone, or high pitched squeal or beep is heard for a fraction of a second. This is an 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. Of course it may also be nothing more then a fax machine or modem calling the wrong number.

Your AM/FM radio has suddenly developed strange interference. Many amateur and spy shop eavesdropping devices use frequencies within or just outside the FM radio band, these signals tend to drift and will "quiet" an 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 within the FM band. If the radio begins to squeal then slowly move it around the room until the sound become very high pitched. 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.

Your television has suddenly developed strange interference. Television broadcast

frequencies are often used to cloak a 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 (this is technically called "Bandwidth, and TV signals use a lot of it).

You have been the victim of a burglary, but nothing was taken. Professional eavesdroppers often break into a home or office, and very rarely leave direct 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.

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, smoke alarms, 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 or light switches as these are often swapped out by an eavesdropper. Also note if any of the screws which hold the wall plate against the wall have been tampered with, or moved from their previous position.

A small-sized discolouration has suddenly appeared on the wall or ceiling. This is a tell tale sign that a pinhole microphone or small hidden video camera has been recently installed.

Someone has just given 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. Be very suspicious of any kind of pen, marker, briefcase, calculator, "post-it" dispenser, power adapter, pager, cell phone, cordless phone, clock, radio, lamp, and so on that is given as a gift. That little gift the salesman left for you may be a spy bug.

You notice small pieces of ceiling tiles, or "dust" on the floor, or on the surface area of your desk. Also, you may observe a cracked, chipped, or gouged ceiling tiles, or ones that are sagging, or not properly set into the track. This is an indication that a ceiling tile has been moved around, and that someone may have installed a hidden video camera, microphone, network snooper device or other eavesdropping hardware.

You notice that a vehicle suspiciously close to your home or office.

Telephone, cable, plumbing, or air conditioning workmen etc, turn up to perform unscheduled work. A very common ruse which eavesdroppers use to get into a facility is to fake a power cut, and then show up to fix the problem. While they are fixing "the problem" they are also installing eavesdropping devices. Other popular "malfunctions" involve air conditioning, telephone, and even the occasional false fire alarm that requires the attention of fire safety officers.

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.

Things appear to have been disturbed, but nothing is missing (at least nothing that you have noticed). An inexperienced snooper will often rummage through a home for hours, and very rarely will they do it in a neat and orderly fashion. The most common "rummaging" locations are the backs of desk drawers, the bottom of file cabinets, wardrobes, and dresser drawers etc.

An eavesdropper sends you a copy of your private conversations. As simple as it seems this is the strongest indicator, and solid proof of eavesdropping. An eavesdropper will sometimes send a victim a copy of a private conversation they intercepted in an attempt at blackmail, or in an attempt to terrorise, or to just stalk the victim. This is commonly seen in civil lawsuits, criminal court cases, marital problems, shareholder disputes, custody battles, and other situations were one side has a position of weakness and is trying to psychologically intimidate the other.

When contacting STB, please remember not to call
in a suspect area, and use a public phone rather than your regular phone. Avoid using an email address or computer that may be compromised.