How to find out if our business is electronically bugged

Can you find out yourself? Probably not. Technical surveillance is so high-tech these days that you could have bugs planted all over your office, in places you’d never think to look. They can be placed quickly and easily by people you’d never suspect – delivery people, the cleaning lady, even your own employees. It’s a hard world, and almost anyone can use a few extra dollars. Your competition wants your secrets, and there’s no shortage of people who will agree to plant a bug in exchange for a sweet handful of cash. If you have information that your competitors think could be useful to them, it’s very easy for them to get it.

A bug can be planted almost anywhere. There could be one in that pen the nice sales rep left you, or behind a switch plate the night watchman unscrewed when no one else was around. Even your cell phone, left unattended, could quickly become the receptacle for a listening device.

How Can I Find the Electronic Bugs?

On your own, finding bugs can be difficult, if not impossible. There are mass-market TCSM devices available, but they’re simply not worth the money.

A professional private investigation firm like Martin Investigative Services uses highly sensitive equipment to find magnetic fields or indiscernible electrical noises emitted by bugs. We also employ thermal cameras that can detect the heat a bug produces. Other devices that can be employed include:

• Oscilloscopes to give a visual representation of unusual signals;
• Frequency scanners to locate signals that shouldn’t be present;
• Vector signal and spectrum analyzers that allow us to identify and separate threatening and non-threatening signals;
• TDRs (time domain reflectometers) to determine the integrity of your communication systems;
• Multimeters to analyze power supplies and other devices;
• Portable x-ray devices to look for bugs inside walls and objects;
• Computer security devices and tools for computer-related threats.

Of course we also go low-tech when necessary, using ladders and flashlights to perform visual checks.

If Bugs Are Found, Won’t More Be Planted?

There’s a good possibility that more attempts at electronic surveillance of your business will be attempted, and that even better devices will be used. There’s always the possibility that if  corporate bug sweeps are utilized, and used repeatedly, your competition will decide it’s just not worth the bother anymore, but this is unlikely. It’s so cheap and easy to spy these days, they’re likely to keep it up, and also likely to have their own offices regularly checked. Many corporations consider regular bug sweeping to be a necessary cost of doing business.

How Can I Be Sure You Got Them All?

At Martin Investigative Services, we’re constantly upgrading our TCSM devices, and our sweeps are performed by highly competent former FBI agents. We’re confident that if it’s there, we’ll find it. In fact, we’re so sure of ability to deliver a “clean sweep” every time that if you think we missed something, we encourage you to invite another company to perform a sweep. If they find anything we missed, we’ll refund 100% of your money.

If you’re concerned about electronic surveillance, don’t hesitate – Call Martin Investigative Services today at 800-577-1080 for a free consultation.