How To Detect Bugging Devices
Posted on: 19 May 2020
In the past, the only time we heard about bugged phones and hidden spy devices deposited by secret agents was on the big screen. Very few people had to worry about someone tapping their phones in the real world. But that was the past. The truth is that with the constant advances in technology, it's become easier than ever for nefarious people to hide inconspicuous devices designed to spy...and it's not just for secret agents anymore. One New Zealand family vacationing in Ireland found a camera with a livestream feed transmitting from their rental property, watching their every move. A hotel worker was charged with installing hidden cameras in a hotel bathroom in San Francisco. If you value your privacy, it's worth checking for hidden devices at home or when you travel. Here's how.
Bug Equipment Detectors
The best way to ensure that you're not being listened to or watched is to invest in bug equipment detectors. In the movies, you might have needed the help of a secret agency to provide the equipment for the job. But in the real world, it's possible to easily buy these devices for your own personal use. One method of detecting a breach of privacy is a radio-frequency detector. Many bugging devices transmit using radio frequencies or RF. The RF spectrum includes frequencies in the 30 Hz to 300 GHz range. RF-detecting devices will pick up most digital and analog transmissions, including GPS or 3G or 4G networks. Most commercial-grade bugging devices fall within the 10 MHz to 8 MHz range, but some high-powered bug detectors can detect signals all the way up to the 24 GHz range.
To use a bug detector, you need to power off any wireless devices in the room, including any routers. Most advanced bugging devices contain their own wireless networks, so turning off a router wouldn't make them undetectable. You would then be able to scan the room with your bug detector. Some bug detecting devices use a series of beeps, while others show a graph or display of detected signals.
Visual Scan
You should also make sure to give the room a visual scan as well. If it's a room you're familiar with that you suspect has been bugged, look for anything out of place, especially if it's near a power source. Long-term bugging devices require a power source to continue operating; otherwise, a battery-powered device will eventually fail. One woman found the camera that was secretly recording her in a hotel in Cape Cod because she noticed a tiny hole in the ceiling tile above the shower and decided to investigate. You need to be that observant in your search.
Check Local Networks
Even if you can't afford high-tech devices, you can still sniff out bugs. One way to do it is to review the devices that are connected to the wireless router in the space you're concerned about. Although, as mentioned, high-tech bugs will often have their own wireless hotspot or even their own SIM card, lower-tech or cheaper bugs may use whatever source is available. Is there a device connected to your router that you don't recognize? Investigate. It may be a bugging device that's using your wireless signal.
Check for Night Vision Cameras
One easy way to detect a video recording device is to check for night vision cameras. You can use an infrared scanner to look for the telltale sign of night vision infrared. You can also use a visible light emitter to find night vision cameras. Sometimes even a simple flashlight is good enough to do the job. You can also download apps that utilize the flash on your smartphone to look for hidden camera lenses. The fortunate thing about technology is that even though the tech for spying is rapidly advancing, so is the tech for detecting.
To learn more, contact a resource that carries bugged equipment detectors.
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