N.B. Using bugging devices is nearly always illegal.

FABERBRENT NEITHER SELL OR INSTALL BUGGING DEVICES

We provide this information to raise awareness of the very real threat from such devices. There are literally millions of these devices sold each year, where are they all?

GSM Infinity Audio Bug / Listening device

• Format – GSM audio transmitter. quad band
• Listening range – 2–5 meters
• Transmit distance – anywhere with GSM (mobile phone) coverage
• Receiver – any phone, anywhere
• Power - 30-120hrs on built in battery, infinite if incorporated into mains powered item.
• Average price $50

GSM devices have changed the threat landscape. They are cheap, effective and can be monitored anywhere in the world. Conventional sweeping techniques will not be able to detect them. These devices can also be modified to transmit data and have been installed into Credit Card authentication machines to collect data and commit fraud.

FaberBrent have developed bespoke technology to deal with this threat.

Hardware Key-logger dongle

• Format – Covert physical memory storage device
• Listening range – everything that is typed on target computer
• Transmit distance – device must be retrieved/accessed to access information
• Power - infinite power provided from target computer
• Capacity – 4MB, equivalent to 2 years information for an average user.
• Average price $60

Key-loggers simply record everything you ever type for future retrieval. This will include all websites, login and passwords, credit card and banking details, emails written, messenger conversations etc. Key-loggers come in both hardware and software forms. Whilst most software key-loggers can be detected by good anti-spyware software there is no way to detect a hardware key-logger without a physical search.

Hardware Key-logger Internal type

This device is functionally the same as the dongle type (above) but is installed internally in the target keyboard or computer.

There is no way to detect a hardware key-logger without expert knowledge and a physical search of all hardware.

Micro Audio Transmitter

• Format – UHF, crystal controlled RF transmitter
• Listening range – 2-8 meters
• Transmit distance – 50-350 meters
• Receiver – UHF scanner or bespoke receiver
• Power - 20-30hrs on built in lithium watch battery, infinite if incorporated into mains powered item.
• Average price $80

This transmitter needs to be seen to be believed. This is a crystal controlled, high quality UHF transmitter that is smaller that a SIM card, small enough to hide almost anywhere.

Micro Digital Audio Video Recorder

• Format – Audio Video recorder – AVI file format, Micro USB interface
• Video / audio range – 2-8 meters
• Record time – 30-120hrs 
• Power - 2hrs on built in lithium battery, infinite if incorporated into mains powered item.Average price $30

This is a totally self contained DVR (Digital Video Recorder) with a camera, microphone, battery and memory in a package smaller than a pack of chewing gum. The camera requires a pinhole aperture less than 1mm in width.

This device does not transmit and there is no way to detect such a device without expert knowledge and a physical search of all hardware.

Micro Telephone Audio Transmitter

• Format – UHF, crystal controlled RF transmitter
• Listening range – target phone
• Transmit distance – 100-1500 meters
• Receiver – UHF scanner or bespoke receiver
• Power – infinite powered from telephone
• Average price $70

Transmitter fitted in the top left hand of a standard BT ADSL 2-way adaptor.  This type of device can also be concealed in a telephone, exchange, junction box or even a telegraph pole.

Micro Video Camera

• Format – Video camera 640*480 PAL/NCST
• Video range – 2-8 meters
• Average price $15

This is a short extract from Privacy International’s White Paper PHR2005 - Threats to Privacy

“Advances in technology are also making it easier and cheaper to conduct covert audio surveillance. Bugs come in many shapes and sizes.

They range from micro engineered transmitters the size of an office staple to devices no bigger than a cigarette packet that are capable of transmitting video and sound signals for miles. Many of the bugs are cleverly camouflaged. They are hidden in everything from umbrella stands to light shades. Sometimes, the infiltrator will hide them in a business or sports trophy where they will stay indefinitely. The latest bugs remain active with their own power supply for around ten years.

Laws restricting the use of covert audio devices vary widely across the world. Many countries have provisions in their general wiretap laws that also cover the use of bugs. The European Court of Human Rights has ruled several times that all signatories of the Convention must enact laws governing their use. While it is illegal in most circumstances in the United States to use or sell such devices, the British market had no restrictions whatever until recently. As one private investigator told the London Daily Telegraph, "It's a game anyone can play." Millions of bugs are sold every year in Asian countries such as Hong Kong and Japan.

The devices are used for a variety of reasons. In many Asian countries, use of the devices for industrial espionage is widespread. They are also frequently used in the workplace or in homes. Law enforcement and intelligence agencies also use the devices but according to government records in the United States, Canada and other countries, they are used much less frequently than traditional wiretaps for law enforcement purposes.”