Technical Surveillance Countermeasures
Abstract of Copyrighted Article
"Making a Clean Sweep of Spies"
by:
Stephen Spring
Security Management
Washington, D.C. April, 1995
The Threat
The end of the Cold War and economic pressures have increased
the risk of industrial espionage. Technical developments make catching
spies difficult. There are now video cameras the size of a postage stamp
and bugging kits that can be purchased for as little as $12.00 U.S. which
work very well.
The Sweep
The way to combat technical espionage is to conduct a Technical
Surveillance Countermeasures (TSCM) sweep of an office or building as one
part of an overall security program. Since there are few regulations governing
TSCM personnel, equipment, and procedures, a better understanding of these
factors helps select a qualified team.
Spy Rules
The goal of an eavesdropper is to steal information and transmit
it back to a listening post using either a bug or a wiretap. Bugs are microphones
using transmitters to send audio or video through free space by using radio
frequencies or infrared light. Wiretaps are also listening devices but
they use telephone lines or hardwires to transmit data. Microphones convert
acoustical energy into electrical energy. A transmitter will always
contain a microphone, power source, and antenna. Recent developments in
the surveillance field are the use of fiber optic microphones which are
extremely difficult to detect.
Countermeasure Tools
A thorough TSCM operation should include a physical search
for video cameras, microphones, and transmitters. The sweep team should
also have the equipment and expertise to do a technical search, which can
help detect radio frequencies and infrared light that the naked eye cannot
see. At a minimum a competent team should include the following equipment:
-
Spectrum Analyzer with at least a 5khz RBW and capable of
detection between 10khz and 3ghz
-
Infrared Transmitter Detection consisting of infrared receivers,
night vision equipment, or IR filter removed video cameras
-
Carrier Current Detection Device capable of detecting frequencies
between 10khz and 700 khz
-
High Gain (+/- 100 db) Amplifiers which can apply voltage
in both polarities to all lines under inspection
-
Non Linear Junction Detector (NLJD) which detects non linear
junctions indicative of inactive eavesdropping components
-
Time Domain Reflectometer ( TDR) a device which operates
like radar sending a reflected pulse down telephone wires and gives hard
copy evidence of any bridges and the location in cable feet from point
of origin
Portable X-Ray is sometimes used dependent upon the
application and threat level assessment
Teamwork
A sweep team is much more effective than having only one
investigator.When the operation is complete, a written report should be
provided to the client detailing the equipment, procedures, and results
of the survey. The report can serve as a historical document useful for
future operations and TSCM team operations.
There Can Never Be a 100% Guarantee
No sweep can give a 100 percent guarantee. Nevertheless,
under the appropriate circumstances, a sweep can be a worthwhile precaution.
Without strict access controls and other elements of security, the security
profile of any TSCM operation is greatly diminished.
For A Copy of the Original Article
Security Management is published monthly by the American
Society for Industrial Security (ASIS), 1655 North Fort Myers Drive, Suite
1200, Arlington, Virginia 22209. Telephone: 703.522.5800. Fax: 703.243.4954"Making
A Clean Sweep of Spies" was published in the April, 1995 edition of Security
Management, Volume 39, No. 4
For Extensive TSCM
Information Visit James Atkinson's tscm.com
Location
Search of Licensed Radio Frequency Users
South African TSCM
Company
This S.C.S.G. Webring site is owned by
Stephen Spring.
This S.C.S.G. Webring site is owned by
Stephen Spring.
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Contact via
E-Mail at: stspring@sprynet.com