Bug Sweep Services
Bug Sweep Services – Outdated Terminology
The term ‘Bug Sweep’ is, in our view, somewhat outdated. Bug Sweep, conjures up images of a person wandering around an office with a telescopic antenna in their hand. Then declaring at some point the area to be ‘clear’!
Maybe back in the cold war, and beyond, that was typical and correct for the threat. However, in today’s security landscape the threat has advanced massively.
Professionals prefer to use the term ‘Technical Surveillance Counter Measures‘ or TSCM for the activities encompassing those of Bug Sweeping Services.
A Bug Sweep, invokes the idea of searching for a ‘Bug’ or listening device, hidden camera, tracker or the like. Some kind of spy gadget hidden in the room. These kind of attacks are only one small part of what a professional TSCM team should be looking for. Surveillance in 2019 can be far more sophisticated than a ‘Bug’. Therefore detection of a technical surveillance attack is far more complex than just a ‘Bug Sweep’.
Incorrect Terminology
Now I know there will be people saying it’s just a turn of phrase, but as a professional, I really dislike the terms bug, bugging, bugged or bug sweep, bug sweeping etc. For example; a modification to a television to allow an attacker to eavesdrop on the conversations in a meeting room. Is that a ‘bug’ or is the television ‘bugged’. Not in our view, its an authorised device that had been modified by an attacker to enable eavesdropping. That form of surveillance attack cannot be found with ‘Bug Sweeping’ methods or Bug Sweeping equipment.
Not every eavesdropping attack is a little black box hidden in the room…not every eavesdropping attack can be found by bug sweeping services. That’s an absolute fact!
Verrimus provides TSCM surveys that test the entire environment for technical attacks. For any technical surveillance attack which will enable a person to steal your critical information.
Contact us to discuss your requirements.
