posted 07-24-2001 08:12 PM            

I pick up my phone yesterday morning to make a call, first call of the day. While hesitating for a moment looking for the correct number to dial, through the handset, I hear MY TELEPHONE dial a number (10 digits, all required in the Atlanta area) -- with NO ASSISTANCE FROM ME.

I most definitely did not hit "redial", but in any case, I let it continue to see who would pick up at the other end, or whose answering machine would kick in.

The phone rang twice, the line picked up, and then complete silence at the other end (I said nothing, yet kept the line active for quite some time) -- though it would not hang up, either, as would most answering machines after a given amount of "silence" (I have a cheap one, which hangs itself up after about 5 seconds).

No one ever came to the phone. No answering machine ever picked up. A definite, active telephone number had been dialed (which I could not "trace", and my current phone has no display). So this was definitely NOT my "redial" which had been accidentally activated -- though I have my suspicions as to whether anything was actually being "recorded" -- nor did I in any way dial the number which was obviously REMOTELY ACCESSED through my home telephone.

File under Spy Gear 101 -- remote, noise-activated listening devices. These used to require hardware installation in said remote device, quite possibly performed now without the aid of external hardware (but with Ma Bell's blessing?).

This is also NOT the first time I have picked up my phone only to find the line "empty" -- not "busy", or with any sort of "message" recording -- just "empty", nothing (such that I can't dial), requiring me to hang the line up two or three times in order to get a proper dialtone.

Now that I recall it, this "empty" sound I'm trying to describe is exactly the same sound I heard after my phone "dialed itself" into whatever abyss those type of phone intrusions go into whenever someone is spooking around in somebody elses's life.

As well, for some time several weeks ago when calling home to collect my messages, I would get an "endless ring (machine wouldn't pick up) on the first try; a "busy signal" the second try; and THEN finally the answering machine would let me in on the third attempt. This was VERY CONSISTENT for about two weeks, and ceased only after several upset calls to Ma/South(ern) Belle which claimed I had an "equipment problem in the house". Oddly enough, all the same cable and equipment is in use at this moment, no difference -- that problem magically "fixed" itself after the third call ["There's NO place like home, there's NO place like home..."].

I may be installing a cut-off switch on my wall phones shortly (disabling all microphone-to-line access). Not that I have anything to hide (I don't), but this is pretty f••••d up.

posted 07-24-2001 09:10 PM            

quote:

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posted 07-24-2001 09:26 PM            

________________________________
1. What is a 'parasite' transmitter' ?
2. How does it work ?
3. Describe 3 locations where the device may be found.
4. Describe 3 sweep methods to discover it's presence-
5. What frequency bands are most commonly used ?
6. Name two other R.F. devices used on phones or lines ?
7. What is an 'infinity' transmitter (harmonica bug ) ?
8. How does it work ?
9. Where must it be installed to be effective ?
10. What sweep methods are used to discover it's presence ?
11. Describe several methods of telephone 'compromises'-
12. Describe the 'hot miking' or 'third-wire technique-
13. How may a hook-switch bypass be discovered ?
14. What is a 'continental' or 'drop-in' device ?
15. How may the 'continental' be discovered ?
16. Describe two methods of unattended recording of phones-
17. Describe two methods of unattended room conversations-
18. Recorder activator; how does it work ? How to discover one ?
19. Where may the recorder/activator be found ?
20. Describe the uses of a signal-operated-switch-
21. What are the three major methods of Electronic Eavesdropping ?
22. Define the generic term, 'wire-tapping'-
23. Define the generic term, 'bugging'-
24. What is a 'lines' or 'mains' transmitter ?
25. How would a 'mains' transmitter be found ?
26. Describe the differences between a spike, tube, and contact Mike-
27. What is 'bridging' a line, and it's purpose-

1. Series-connected r.f. transmitter on Tip or Ring of phone line.

2. Lifting the hand-set completes the phone circuit; The parasite, which is in series
with the line, is then activated, receiving power to operate from the line.

3. Inside the phone housing, anywhere on the lines inside the premises,
anywhere outside on the line to the phone company central office.

4. Analyzer shows high reading (14) OFF-hook; R.F. detector coupled to
phone lines;
OhmMeter shows capacitive 'kick' on shorted dry lines.

5. The commercially available frequencies are, 80- 120 MHz; 130-160 MHz;
405-470 MHz

6. Parallel r.f. transmitter and Drop-in transmitter.

7. Parallel-connected room bug, usually activated by an audio tone
over the phone line.

8. Usually designed to answer the phone before it rings, and activates the on-board
microphone. Phone-line powered.

9. Since it is a room conversation listening device, it must be in the target room,
and placed where the sound may be heard by the mike.

10. Must first be triggered by audio signal injected into phone line. When activated,
Analyzer will show high, (14) ON-hook;
Audio amp on phone line= feed-back scream.

11. Hook-switch bypass; 3rd wire technique ; Listen-back technique.

12. Bypassing the hook-switch of the phone, so that the phone's microphone
is always hot.

13. Voltage present on phone's mike contacts while ON-hook; Audio amp= feed-back.

14. Disguised r.f. transmitter, designed to replace the telephone's microphone.

15. Analyzer will show high, (15) OFF-hook; R.F. Detector.

16. Telephone recorder-activator and recorder;
Parasite transmitter to Receiver to Recorder.

17. VOX recorder; Hot-miking ; Listen-back.

18. Senses voltage drop when line is in use, activating recorder through
remote-start jack;
Analyzer shows low (45) ON-hook; OhmMeter = capacitive 'kick'.

19. Anywhere, connected to the phone lines, inside or outside of the premises.

20. Remote trigger for recorder, transmitter, or other device. Bugging 'on demand'.

21. Wiretapping ; Bugging ; Covert Video surveillance.

22. Wiretapping is the method of Electronic Eavesdropping on the target's phone lines,
whether direct-connnect, inductive or capacitive-coupling.

23. Bugging refers to the use of Radio or Mains transmitters to convey information.

24. Lines or mains refer to the existing electrical wiring of the building.
Wireless intercoms and 'babysitters' use this method.
Disguised units may be built into lamps, outlets,
but in all cases must connect to the live house wiring.

25. Mains transmitters may be discovered by a physical search,
and by capacitive-coupling a R.F. detector to the electric lines.

26. The 'spike' mike is used from one room to another, where the tip touches
but does not penetrate the adjoining room's wall.

The 'tube ' mike uses a hollow tube through an opening into the target area.
The 'contact' mike is similar to the 'spike' mike, in that it picks up
the sound vibrations by conductive means,
such as physically placing on a radiator on the first floor and
obtaining sounds from the second floor.

27. Bridging a line is to connect the live telephone line to an unused line, which is then routed to a listening post. Bridging may be done using wiring or conductive paint
to conceal the bridge.

posted 07-25-2001 01:20 AM            

Also note that the same desired result can be accomplished via your computers audio mic. Disconnect it.

Interesting story... during one of the earlier stages of my mispent youth, I purchased a cordless telphone. This was when they first arrived on the scene...low frequency, extremely limited range. Maybe fifty feet, on a good day. I discovered, quite accidently, that I could quickly click the 'flash' button three times and be connected to another conversation. At first I assumed this was someone else in my immediate area with another cordless.

I soon discovered that I was picking up conversations originating several miles away. Two way communication was always possible. Once the novelty of interjecting random, thought-provoking commentary into my unsuspecting victims conversations wore off, I would politely introduce myself and enquire what type of phone the people on the other end were using. In every case, one of the callers was using a cordless phone.

My point? In no way, shape or form should I have been able to(according to the specifications of these phones) pick up conversations of other cordless users miles away. But I did.

posted 07-25-2001 02:01 AM            

Sounds like you need some help. You might be bugged remotely from what you mention here.

Sounds like to need to at least read the basic manual on this type of intrusion.

check out http://www.tscm.com these guys are the Technical Security Counter-Measures industry's biggest and most reliable company.

Their site is packed with information that can be of help to you.