Counter Electronic Surveillance and Espionage

Counter Electronic Surveillance

This division of our company primarily concentrates on the protection of information and privacy, and prevent intrusion of confidentiality measures or processes.

We often hear the words “bugging”, “wiretaps” or just plain “bugged”, this common jargon for electronic surveillance. Electronic surveillance in turn is performed through the installation of electronic listening devices which either record or transmit conversations. These devices vary from basic units which can be purchased in any specialised security shop through to highly sophisticated equipment imported or ordered through the internet which are able to listen in on meetings, conversations held in motor vehicles, telephone and even cellular phone conversations. Then there is also what is known as “laser eavesdropping” against which there is very little defence other than not holding a conversation anywhere near a window. Lets also not forget that there are numerous other electronic surveillance devices for example that is used to monitor numbers dialled from a telephone, keystrokes on a computer key board, distance travelled in vehicles and to locate exact positions of vehicles and people with cellular phones, spy ware installed on computers or networks to monitor communications including e-mail interception, document duplication, fax interception and the list is never ending.

How real is the threat of either electronic surveillance?

The question is difficult to answer as there are very few recorded statistics locally, law enforcement is not able to provide protection against it as they lack both the know how and equipment, and once detected the perpetrators have left minimal trace of their deeds. We also observe the number of security equipment outlets that sell listening and other surveillance devices, there are a number of web sites from which equipment can be ordered and for the professional spy who has a sizable budget, they are able to purchase highly specialised equipment. These outlets would not exist if there was no demand for it, both SAPS and the Scorpions appearing before the Parliamentary sub-committee in 2001, made submissions to prevent and ban the sale of listening devices to the public by so-called “spy shops”. The US State Department in 1999 declared its astonishment as to the dollar value of listening devices that had been imported into that country even though the possession and use of such devices is illegal. In a further communication it issued Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1994, reports widespread, illegal or uncontrolled use of wiretaps by both government and private groups in over 70 countries.

A number of notable cases have been reported on:

· An internet and classified advertisement search reveals a number of private investigators in southern Africa who promote bugging and corporate espionage services.

· Independent papers reported on 12 November 2003 that bugging devices had been found in Radio Pretoria’s offices

· Recently private investigators have been arrested for using listening devices.

· The Cape Argus reported on 17 March 2007 that “three secret microphones and a hidden camera were discovered in Fidentia's Cape Town boardroom in a sweep for electronic bugs after curators took over the business”.

· 1999 saw the court appearance of an advertising agency executive accused of intercepting the communications of a rival agency.

· There have been numerous reports of political party’s offices or meetings having been monitored with listening devices.

· The Sunday Times reported on 14 April 2002 that a tobacco distributor had obtained a court order to raid a competitor against whom it was alleged that they had used bugging devices to obtain confidential information.

· The Star reported on 6 October 2006, “incidents of corporate espionage had risen dramatically in South Africa as companies, wanting to get an edge on their competitors”.

· The now much published incident involving Koffi Annan during the Kenya negotiations.

Espionage

Industrial espionage in short, is the collection of confidential information through illegal means such as theft, covert listening devices, recruitment of informers and employees involving bribery and corruption, fraudulent activities, the collection and sifting of refuse, interception and acquisition of financial information, product sabotage and misrepresentation. Electronic surveillance and espionage is not restricted to unscrupulous competitors it is also utilised by foreign governments on business persons visiting their countries for commercial activities, terrorist and organised crime groups who probably have the biggest budgets to carry out espionage activities. In the latter case this often potentially also impacts on the safety of company employees.

Anyone can be a target of either surveillance or espionage as long as they have some form of influence in society such as corporations, have the power to change course of certain activities such as judges or have a high wealth status that they could be ideal candidates for kidnap groups for extortion such as in Nigeria, Mexico and Columbia, or may be a threat to a competitor or organisation.

Some obvious signs of these activities may include:

· The sudden appearance of strange persons loitering around or vehicles parked close to offices for no apparent reason

· Sudden offers for products or services for a vastly reduced price which was previously unavailable from a supplier

· Refuse has been removed or rummaged through prior to the arrival of refuse removal companies removing it

· Furniture suddenly out of place with no explanation

· The telephone rings and on answering the line is dead

· People either not involved in a project or the company but are privy to private information or details

· Repair personnel such as air condition technicians or plumbers arrive unannounced and with no obvious defects

· Confidential information contained in business bids suddenly becomes available

· Locks have been tampered with or suddenly feel stiff or awkward to operate

· Strange sounds coming from telephones during a conversation

· A break-in occurs but nothing obvious is stolen

· A normally cooperative and long serving employee becomes insubordinate and demands steep pay increases

· Sudden and unexplained financial transactions or missing funds

· Gifts from suppliers or potential business partners in the form of office clocks, large desk ornaments, electronic appliances, desk lamps

· Obvious signs of building work such as wall repairs, ceiling tiles moved, window frames repaired

· Missing documents from usually secure filing systems

Our leading counter electronic surveillance (debugging) and espionage team has the expertise and knowledge to implement a regular counter electronic surveillance strategy to minimise the risk and dramatically increase the detection of any electronic surveillance or espionage activity.

ccs

Excellence ♦ Integrity

South Africa

csi

Excellence ♦ Integrity

Namibia