Question: how to detect hidden monitoring devices?
Nicol C So
in the workplace. The message of the program is very disturbing, to
put it mildly. In one case a hotel in Boston uses hidden cameras
extensively to monitor and record its employees' acts without their
knowledge. They even had hidden camera(s) in the men's locker room!
Here are some questions for those who know electronics. Is there a
good way of detecting hidden monitoring devices, say, in an office
environment? The devices could be camera, bugs or other devices.
I've heard of a method which actually detects the presence of p-n
junctions. But I don't know whether it works well in practice or
whether it requires very expensive equipment.
Are there devices one can buy/build cheaply that can detect hidden
electronic equipment that can conceivably be installed by one's
employer or apartment management?
Jon Kimbrough
>Yesterday at 9pm ET on NBC there was a program on invasion of privacy
>in the workplace. The message of the program is very disturbing, to
>put it mildly. In one case a hotel in Boston uses hidden cameras
>extensively to monitor and record its employees' acts without their
>knowledge. They even had hidden camera(s) in the men's locker room!
>
>Here are some questions for those who know electronics. Is there a
>good way of detecting hidden monitoring devices, say, in an office
>environment? The devices could be camera, bugs or other devices.
>I've heard of a method which actually detects the presence of p-n
>junctions. But I don't know whether it works well in practice or
>whether it requires very expensive equipment.
Equipment that detects p-n junctions would work *too* well in an office
environment! Every computer, pocket calculator, laser printer, and
any other piece of electronic office equipment would contain a p-n
junction. You would have to remove everything from the office (and
maybe surrounding offices if the detector is sensitive enough).
An interesting sidenote to this is that p-n junction detection works
well enough that when the new American Embassy building was built
(by Russion workers, of course), they filled the poured concrete walls
with thousands of diodes (p-n junctions!) to render the p-n detectors
useless! (Political comments withheld using great restraint!)
>
>Are there devices one can buy/build cheaply that can detect hidden
>electronic equipment that can conceivably be installed by one's
>employer or apartment management?
There are certainly devices available from at least a few specialty
companies, but I think you'll find prices are far from cheap.
Jon Kimbrough jki...@lasc.lockheed.com
=====
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed herein, either stated or implied, are
solely my own and do not reflect Lockheed's views in any manner.
Martin McCormick
There are some monitoring systems that aren't even electronic at the pickup
point. One can have a diafragm made of some thin material such as Milar
such that it vibrates with sound just like a microphone. Instead of
electronics to transduce the signal, just have a couple of glass fibers,
one carying a beam of light to shine on the diafragm and the other to carry
the modulated return beam back to some electronics which are a good safe
distance away. The transducer and fibers will sit nicely in the wall or
where ever they are needed and not show up on any kind of detector.
Martin McCormick WB5AGZ Stillwater, OK
O.S.U. Computer Center Data Communications Group
Michael Covington
but social: "Plant" some false information of a sort that is sure to
draw a response. Let them "see" something extremely frightening
happening (such as a staged murder)...
--
:- Michael A. Covington, Associate Research Scientist : *****
:- Artificial Intelligence Programs mcov...@ai.uga.edu : *********
:- The University of Georgia phone 706 542-0358 : * * *
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John Schuch
>Are there devices one can buy/build cheaply that can detect hidden
>electronic equipment that can conceivably be installed by one's
>employer or apartment management?
The electronic equipment available for monitoring device detection
is terribly expensive, and does NOT cover the full range of devices
in use. There are however low-tech and no-tech ways to determine if
you are being monitored.
Audio surveilance.
Make some statement in the possibly monitored environment (phone,
office, etc) that is sure to make people monitoring do something
you can see, or hear about. For example, "I heard that Mr. XXXXX
has been getting 4 pay checks each week by mistake" or "Some guy
from the EPA want's to know what's in those drums out back" or, if
you are REALLY gutsy, "I've got 25 pounds of cocain in my trunk."
You do not have to say these things to anyone in particular, just
say them where you think the listening devices are.
Video surveilance.
Same basic idea, DO something that will cause some reaction. You
might hide some papers in a book. Also place a paperclip between
the pages so it will drop to the floor if the book has been rifled
through. (pick a book NO ONE is going to want to use) Another ploy
would be to buy Tic-Tacs or other small mints and place them in a
zip-lock bag. A few times a day swallow two, with exagurated effort
followed by a gulp of water. The trick is, KNOW how many are left
in the bag. The viewer might take one or two for analysis.
John
(No, I'm not paranoid, I'm a wanna-be mystery writer :-) )
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| John R. Schuch - Motorola Computer Group - Manufacturing Engineering |
| N7XVS - sch...@phx.mcd.mot.com - (602) 438-3008 - CompuServe: 70733.3330 |
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Steve Langstaff
[snip]
:Video surveilance.
:
:Same basic idea, DO something that will cause some reaction. You
:might hide some papers in a book. Also place a paperclip between
:the pages so it will drop to the floor if the book has been rifled
:through. (pick a book NO ONE is going to want to use.
If they are any good (which they are) then they will find the paperclip
before it drops to the floor. Try a speck of dust on your secret diary.
(Oh no. That one's been done before in _1984_).
:(No, I'm not paranoid, I'm a wanna-be mystery writer :-) )
---
Steve L.