Help, I think I’ve been Bugged!
Searching for bug sweep services? Many enquiries, we deal with start with “I think I’ve been bugged, what do I do?”. Our first question will always be, “what has happened that makes you think this?”. Often, a client will simply say that it’s a ‘gut feeling’. Whatever the reason for suspecting that you have been targeted by someone wishing to compromise your privacy, you need a TSCM specialist. Covert eavesdropping happens, don’t let anyone tell you it doesn’t. We wouldn’t have been in business for so long if it didn’t!
I Think I’ve Been Bugged, What Should I do?
You need a reputable, TSCM company to provide you with a professional, discreet and ethical TSCM service. A TSCM service will detect, identify and locate all technical surveillance attacks.
Procuring a Bug Sweep
A bug sweep service (or more accurately a TSCM survey) is conducted by experienced TSCM specialists, using various measurement tools. Beware! – not all those who profess to offer the service are TSCM specialists. Quite often private investigators or close protection companies will claim that they can conduct a bug sweep. Sadly, in our experience few actually conduct a robust service and may leave their client more vulnerable as a result. Reach out to a TSCM specialist and ask for information regarding cost, duration and equipment used. There are a lot of companies whom claim to undertake TSCM services, but they lack the experience, skill set and/or equipment to detect, identify and pinpoint locate any bugs (TSCM attacks).
Prior to a Bug Sweep
Once you have selected a TSCM professional, they should give you some detailed information about how you should act, prior to them delivering your bug sweep/TSCM survey. This advice should be tailored to your specific circumstances.
Until the survey is conducted, act as if everything you say or do is being heard or seen. If you have had a privacy compromising attack, and the attackers become aware that you are having a TSCM survey (bug sweep), they will often remove the attack prior to the survey. Whilst this could solve your immediate issue, it won’t solve the problem long term as the attacker would just stop until a TSCM survey has been conducted and restart afterwards.
Do not discuss any sensitive or personal information in the place that you feel has been compromised. Act as if you are bugged, until the survey determines whether you are or not.
Contact a TSCM specialist, if at all possible via whatsapp, signal, email or telephone (obviously do not contact them whilst you are in the area of concern – where you think may be ‘bugged’).
Don’t try to do a DIY bug sweep by purchasing bug detectors, or other easily purchased handheld devices. There’s a reason why TSCM specialists invest up to £250k in their suites of measurement tools (TSCM equipment). Unless you know each threat domain and each measurement tool required, plus have an in-depth knowledge of how to analyse and interpret the measurements, there really is no point.
We undertake TSCM surveys on behalf of commercial organisations, charities and UHNW individuals. If you are one of these categories reach out and we’ get you a quotation for you to take a look at.
