Counter-Surveillance Gadgets and Techniques

Introduction

Counter-Surveillance is the name given to the activity of subverting surveillance techniques and devices. If you are under surveillance, then you are “countering” the surveillance to avoid being observed. In this section, I’ll focus on the techniques to locate and detect spy gadgets specifically.

General Detection Techniques

The popular misconception about detecting surveillance devices is that you need some kind of magical bug detection gadget to do the job for you. In fact, the best technique for finding covertly hidden spy gadgets is to perform a fingertip inspection of absolutely everything in the target room.

Here are a few general detection tips:

• Check for mysterious holes or spots on objects in the room, such as books, cases, folders, electronic goods, conduits, alarm systems, soft furnishings, etc.
• Do any objects look out of place? Are any objects aliens to the type of room that you’re in? Is the object meant to be there? Something could be concealed in that object.
• With respect to flooring, ceilings, walls and furniture, are any panels lose or have been tampered with?
• Are you getting interference on any TVs, radios, phones or wireless networks? This might indicate a nearby electronic device.
• Check cables for computers, TVs, video systems, networks, etc for tampering or splicing.

Use your common sense too! If something seems wrong, strange or out of place, investigate further.

Detecting Transmitting Bugs

Transmitting bugs include wireless spy cameras, wireless telephone bugs and room bugs. A transmitting bug is designed to generate a radio frequency (RF) signal so that it can be received by a remote receiver. It’s also this RF signal that can be used to detect a transmitting bug using a bug detector.

You can use a broadband bug detector to help find radio transmissions. Since it’s a broadband detector, it’s typically capable of detecting signals in the 50MHz to 3GHz range. However, these bug detectors are not sensitive to any particular frequency, so you’ll only end up being able to detect the bug if you’re less than a metre away from it.

Some bug detectors come with an “audio confirm” option that will give you a high pitched whistle (i.e. sonic feedback) if you get close to the microphone of the bug. This helps to determine if the transmission is in the room or a stray signal outside. It’s possible to spend a fortune on bug detectors without any added benefit. A detector that costs between £50 and £200 will give you all the functionality you need as a quick reference. However, don’t forget the tips suggested earlier in this article too!

Detecting Hardwired Bugs

Hardwired bugs are much more difficult to detect as they do not generate detectable RF signals, which is why you cannot rely on a spy gadget to sweep a room. The generic tips very much apply to wired bugs.

Another tip is to check behind all electrical fittings and fascias, such as light sockets, switches, plug sockets, telephone boxes, etc. Place your highest priority on those that are the easiest to gain access to, as they are the most likely target for installing a bug.

Detecting Covert Spy Cameras

Spy cameras can be found using of all of the previous tips. Wireless cameras are a type of transmitting bug, so RF detectors can be used to detect wireless cameras. I’ve found that some bug detectors are insensitive to wireless cameras operating on 2.4GHz though.

There are also optical camera finders that have very bright red LEDs at a particular wavelength of red light. Due to a property called optical augmentation, the vast majority of camera lens, the lens of the spy cameras show up as a red dot in the viewfinder of the optical camera detector.

What’s really useful is that these optical detectors work on any type of camera, regardless if it’s wired, wireless or just a camcorder.