Whether you have an apartment, condo or house, there may be hidden cameras, audio transmitters or recording devices installed by your neighbor, landlord, or husband/wife, boyfriend or girlfriend!
All eavesdropping devices emit heat. A video camera can be hidden in anything, including a clock radio, but it shows up clearly on our infrared camera.
If there is an eavesdropping device in your home, our residential debugging sweep will locate it. The plus sweep includes the use of a spectrum analyzer. Normally, we do not use a spectrum analyzer as it takes many hours, incurring unnecessary additional costs for our clients. A spectrum analyzer analyzes virtually EVERY radio transmission in the area, including the many commercial radio and television stations, police radios, aircraft, taxis, cell phones, as well as eavesdropping devices. Also, spectrum analyzers cannot detect recorders, microphones, anything hardwired, fiber optics, passive resonators, and inactive remote-controlled dormant devices.
The following is included in EVERY SWEEP:
- Radio transmission sweep – Total RF (radio frequency) spectrum sweep – 200 Hz to 12 GHz
- Telephone sweep (we perform three electronic tests and visually inspect each phone)
- Carrier current sweep – 20 KHz to 400 KHz (the building wiring)
- Infrared transmission sweep
- Laser beam transmission sweep
- Microwave transmission sweep
- Cell phone bug sweep (a cell phone used as a bug)
- Microphone sweep
- Hidden video camera sweep (both wireless and hardwired)
- Audio recorder sweep
- Acoustic leakage inspection (where applicable)
How we sweep a home
First, we test the landline phones for possible wiretaps. We run four different electronic tests, and follow all phone lines, as well as visually inspect each phone. We also inspect where the phone lines enter the premise, i.e. in the basement. In homes we check the neighborhood junction box (if there is one) and outside the house where the telephone interface enters the home (this is one of the easiest locations to tap a phone).
We check the basement where we follow the path of all the wires to determine what function they serve. Next, we go to the attic. Antennas are often hidden in attics. We follow wire paths there as well to determine what purpose they serve. If there is an attached garage, we inspect it electronically and visually as well.
Usually, “bugs” are found within 20 feet of where conversations occur.
We employ several broadband/nearfield receivers with many antennas (different frequencies use different antennas) going from a range of 200 Hz to 12 GHz, and an advanced cell phone detector. Cell phones are the “bug” of choice these days. Like voice-activated recorders, they can be easily hidden. Unlike recorders, which have to be retrieved, cell phones can be called from anywhere in the world. The bell does not ring, and the caller can eavesdrop on conversations in the room where they have been placed.
Some unscrupulous landlords have been known to put a hidden video camera in apartments, especially bathrooms. We can check for wireless and hard-wired video cameras, including the new 5.8 GHz wireless cameras. “Bugs” must have a power supply, either battery or the building current.
We check for everything in a home: including infrared transmissions, laser beam transmissions, and microwave transmissions. In the case of pillows, blankets, cushions, and drapes, etc.
We can literally hear through most walls. In some apartments walls are checked for acoustic leakage (popular, but low-tech). Depending on how large the premises is, an electronic sweep takes about two to three hours. A studio apartment can take as little as an hour. A large home can take much longer.
We’ll also conduct a thorough physical search of your premises. Research Electronics International, a leading manufacturer of counter-surveillance equipment and one of the foremost training facilities for Technical Surveillance Counter-Measures, says, “A physical search is the root of all counter-surveillance work. It also overlaps other procedures. Be thorough and look closely for anything suspicious. Your physical search may be the only method to uncover wired microphones, fiber optic microphones, passive resonators, inactive remote controlled ‘dormant’ devices, or devices which are not generally detectable with counter-surveillance equipment.
Finally, we issue a written report, only upon request.
None of our equipment emits electromagnetic radiation, so it is healthy to in your home.