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Ranno Investigative Services understands and empathizes with those of you that believe that someone is eavesdropping or bugging your home, apartment, business, office or vehicle. The idea that someone is violating your personal space and is gaining information or visuals of you without your permission can make you scared, paranoid and often times, due to the circumstances, scared for your safety.
Because of the need to know positively whether or not your personal spaces are being bugged or monitored, Ranno Investigative Services offered our TSCM or “Bug Sweeping” Services.
TSCM actually stands for Technical Surveillance Countermeasures, a process known also known as “Bug Sweeping”. Sweeping for electronic listening devices or cameras is one of the most technically advanced services that any private investigator can offer because it requires an array of expensive equipment along with trained experts who are aware of the proper techniques to use the equipment correctly.
While bug sweeping may look simple on TV, it is actually very difficult to perform. A trained sweeper must use a practiced and learned methodology that can defeat any perpetrator’s technology and also any steps they may have taken steps to avoid detection.
The most common and affordable eavesdropping devices emit some type of radio frequency which transmits data. Because of that, a TSCM expert will always start by attempting to detect any radio signal. The eavesdropping device is transmitting a radio signal containing the information being collected, whether it’s video, audio or any another type of data. The operator must sweep through all possible frequencies in order to catch the correct radio signal. It’s almost like tuning your car radio to catch the news but a bit more complex.
However, that sweep will only catch the most basic of eavesdropping devices because perpetrators will try to avoid detection using techniques other forms, like burst transmission or spread spectrum transmissions.
Burst Transmissions – A type of device that collects information over a period of time and then sends it out all at once in a short burst so the sweeper won’t be able to detect the signal unless they’re listening at exactly the right time.
Spread Spectrum Transmissions – This device spreads a signal over a larger spectrum of radio frequency than a normal radio transmission, so that the signal is too quiet to be picked up unless the sweeping equipment is specially attuned to catch the correct spread spectrum transmission.
While bug sweeping may look simple on TV, it is actually very difficult to perform. A trained sweeper must use a practiced and learned methodology that can defeat any perpetrator’s technology and also any steps they may have taken steps to avoid detection.
The most common and affordable eavesdropping devices emit some type of radio frequency which transmits data. Because of that, a TSCM expert will always start by attempting to detect any radio signal. The eavesdropping device is transmitting a radio signal containing the information being collected, whether it’s video, audio or any another type of data. The operator must sweep through all possible frequencies in order to catch the correct radio signal. It’s almost like tuning your car radio to catch the news but a bit more complex.
However, that sweep will only catch the most basic of eavesdropping devices because perpetrators will try to avoid detection using techniques other forms, like burst transmission or spread spectrum transmissions.
Burst Transmissions – A type of device that collects information over a period of time and then sends it out all at once in a short burst so the sweeper won’t be able to detect the signal unless they’re listening at exactly the right time.
Spread Spectrum Transmissions – This device spreads a signal over a larger spectrum of radio frequency than a normal radio transmission, so that the signal is too quiet to be picked up unless the sweeping equipment is specially attuned to catch the correct spread spectrum transmission.
Ranno Investigative Services’ company policy is that if any eavesdropping devices are located in your home, car or office, we collect the evidence and attempt to begin a chain of custody record of that item. We photograph the item in its current position as well as videotape the scene and location of the item. We then use gloves to remove the item while recording the event and place the item into a sealed bag and seal the bag with a dated and signed label, preserving the integrity of the item in order for it to be turned over to a local or state police department. You are then provided a full investigative report and copies of the DVD or photographs and any chain of custody logs.
As you can clearly see, bug sweeping is a complicated process that requires not only a large number of electronics, but also the knowledge of how perpetrators operate. We have to anticipate where they would place their bugs and how they would use them in order to catch them.
Ranno Investigative Services’ company policy is that if any eavesdropping devices are located in your home, car or office, we collect the evidence and attempt to begin a chain of custody record of that item. We photograph the item in its current position as well as videotape the scene and location of the item. We then use gloves to remove the item while recording the event and place the item into a sealed bag and seal the bag with a dated and signed label, preserving the integrity of the item in order for it to be turned over to a local or state police department. You are then provided a full investigative report and copies of the DVD or photographs and any chain of custody logs.
As you can clearly see, bug sweeping is a complicated process that requires not only a large number of electronics, but also the knowledge of how perpetrators operate. We have to anticipate where they would place their bugs and how they would use them in order to catch them.
