SpectroGuard

Our Specialty: Bug Sweeps!!

Our TSCM Services…

Our highly trained TSCM specialists and our sophisticated state of the art surveying equipment are geared toward detecting and/or locating simple to high level commercially available bugs and wiretaps.

Our TSCM team consists of a group of experienced, well trained specialists. Some of them with 30 years U.S. government TSCM experience.

Recurrent training and refresher courses are provided every six months by external training providers and equipment manufacturers.

TSCM License and Insurance: Even though the state of Florida does not require a specific license to be able to provide TSCM services in Florida, we have chosen to subject our qualifications to the scrutiny of the North Carolina Private Protective Services Board, which after compliance with their training and experience requirements as well as criminal records check clearance and proof of insurance, have issued the corresponding "Counterintelligence Service" license # 138-CI shown on the right, wich has been active since 2003 up to January 2016.

Our Private Investigator License, State of Florida, is License Number C 1200048, under the name VILLALOBOS, FRED A.

We like to emphasize on this issue because it differentiates us from unqualified practitioners offering this delicate and sophisticated type of service without the training, experience, insurance and adequate equipment.

Service cost:

After the initial customer contact, it is recommended -when possible- a walk-through of the premises under some kind of cover that will not cause the eavesdropper to become suspicious. This will allow us to give a good estimate or a proposal as to the actual costs for the "sweeping" work. It is preferable that the walk-through occur during normal office hours and that a simple cover story be used to disguise the true purpose of our visit.

When a preliminary inspection takes place, the following conditions are reviewed and determined:

Determination of Type/(level) of threat
Places outside the premises where tests can be discreetly made for suspicious signals leaving the premises.
The physical layout of the premises. That is, location, size, relationship of each of the rooms.
Nature of furnishings, fixtures, electronic equipment (phones, computers) in the "sensitive" rooms.
Structure of "sensitive" rooms, walls, ceiling and floor, and ways that a "bug" might be concealed in them...
"Listening post" location possibilities, both within the building and in the surroundings.
Telephone closet location and accessibility

The service cost is based on projected needs of time and resources, depending primarily on:

Type/(level) of threat* (determines the equipment's sophistication and depth of the inspection required for the "sweep")
Business exposure, type of organization and overall work environment
Size of building, number/size/configuration of offices or workplaces
Number of telephone lines, system type, number of phone units
Number of computers, type of networks
Traveling requirements

954-752-1577

to obtain more information about the cost of our TSCM services and to get an immediate "sweep" quote...

(*)Type/(level) of threat:

There are different types or levels of threats. In accordance with basic TSCM terminology, the levels are ranked by numbers or letters, in ascending order depending on the depth and equipment required for the specific sweep. The higher the rating the more qualifications are required from the TSCM provider in terms of expertise and sophistication of the techniques and equipment used in the sweep.

Conversely, a domestic dispute over a divorce; a jealous employee concerned about his career; or a competitor interested in your bid or secret formula will present three completely different eavesdropping scenarios.

The sophistication, cost and planting techniques of the threat are directly related to the pursued eavesdropping reward.

In domestic disputes for instance, most of the times the eavesdropping devices are easily found at electronic stores and the Internet, and are "planted" directly by the interested party or by amateur eavesdroppers. The scenario changes dramatically when the outcome of the dispute involves large sums of money, the parties involved are very rich, and or when very special economic/family interests are in jeopardy. In this case both the eavesdropper and the eavesdropping device can be much more sophisticated.

Bug threats on business can be very diverse. Employees spying on each other (Peeping Tom, sexual harassment, stalking, or concerns about personal careers) may plant a low-level domestic surveillance bug or wiretap relatively easy to detect. But there are a number of other special reasons why someone (inside or outside) would want to spy and illegally eavesdrop on a business.

Here are some basic reasons:

Labor union disputes with company management.
New product developments and plans.
Protection of Trade secrets.
Negotiating strategies
Participation in large bids.
Reorganization plans such as mergers or takeovers.
Corporate legal problems.
Protection of financial information.
Industrial spies from other companies and/or countries.

The reward in these cases can be immeasurable for the eavesdropper and disastrous for the targeted business. Bugs and wiretaps may be expensive high tech medium to high end industrial spying equipment, planted by professional eavesdroppers or industrial spies.

The type/level of the threat determines time, number of technicians, depth of inspection and equipment sophistication required for the "sweep". These basic elements are very important for a good estimate or a proposal as to the actual costs for the "sweeping" work.

The "sweep": Sweeps are conducted using meticulous procedures developed by our technicians. The type/level of "sweep" to be performed will be determined after the initial consultation and/or inspection of the site in question. The TSCM team makes use of predesigned checklists for each specific "sensitive area".

Sweep Procedures include:

Detailed Physical Inspection, outside the premises, at the perimeter, at the telephone closet, at the "sensitive area" (walls, ceiling, floor and doors)
Radio spectrum and video analysis, outside the premises, at the telephone closet, at the "sensitive area"
Electrical/Phone Wiring analysis, at the telephone closet, at the "sensitive area"
Telecommunications system analysis (Optional)
Computer system analysis (Optional)
Report of findings and recommendations

SpectroGuard's TSCM equipment:

The more sophisticated the threat is, the more specialized the equipment and deeper the inspection required for the "sweep". The cost of the "sweep" varies in relation with the human expertise and equipment resources needed for the specific job.

The basic equipment consists of carefully selected manual tools and accessories such as: night vision scope, voltage detector, metal detector, tone generator/tracker, inductive amplifier, punch down tools, butt-set, oscilloscope, volt/ohm meter (multitester), borescope, inspection lights, uv lights, inspection mirrors, knife, magnet, magnifier, multipurpose tool set (screwdrivers, pliers, cutters, other miscellaneous). These are the tools used mainly during our detailed physical inspection as shown in the picture on the left, using a borescope to check the inside of an AC wall outlet.

Once a contract is ready for a "sweep", our team selects the appropriate TSCM equipment and the corresponding inspection procedure for the specific job.

The pictures in this page are a partial showing of the equipment used on a discretionary basis by our TSCM specialists, in accordance with the "sweep level" required for the job ...

For portability, flexibility and proximity to the target, the OSCOR GREEN (10 kHz to 24 GHz) handheld spectrum analyzer (HSA) makes our TSCM job easier and more efficient. It's got the features we need for operating in tough field environments, and its measurement performance gives us confidence the job's been done right. The OSCOR GREEN features a built in AM/FM/Video Analog demodulator / speaker. Coupled with other instruments and computer accessories this units will let us detect virtually any RF eavesdropping device in existence today... With a rapid sweep speed and easy to use functionality suited for detecting unknown, illlegal, disruptive, and anomalous rogue transmissions across a wide frequency range...

For portability, flexibility and proximity to the target, the Agilent
N9344C (100 kHz to 20 GHz) handheld spectrum analyzer (HSA) makes our TSCM job easier and more efficient. It's got the features we need for operating in tough field environments, and its measurement performance gives us confidence the job's been done right. We couple this unit with a high range planar log-periodic WinRadio antenna with outstanding results. The N9344C features a built in AM/FM demodulator / speaker. Coupled with other instruments and computer accessories this units will let us detect virtually any RF eavesdropping device in existence today...

The Kestrel TSCM ® Professional Software, is being utilized by us for a wide variety of specialized Technical Security (TSEC), TSCM, spectrum surveillance and monitoring, spectrum management and regulatory compliance, interference analysis and spectrum verification relative to the detection, collection, storage, and review of potentially hostile signal events lurking within the ambient Radio Frequency (RF) spectrum environment, and for resolving intentional and unintentional radiators.

READING "RF" GRAPHS: This is the way we see the RF signals in the spectrum with our Agilent N9344C... The picture at left shows the normal spectrum view of a room.

The picture at right shows the spectrum in the same room but with the presence of a "transmitting" device...

During the TSCM sweep we check all the signals to make sure that they are not of malicious origin.

OSCOR-5000: Omni Spectral Correlator, was one of the most advanced countersurveillance "AM / FM Demodulator / detection" systems in the market. The "old" OSCOR was designed to detect all major types of audio and video transmitters including RF, carrier current, and infrared bugs. The flexibility to demodulate AM/FM signals is, perhaps, it's greatest strength...

Flir-Thermal Camera: The built-in Laser LocatIR quickly helps us to associate the hot spot on the IR image with the real physical target. This feature greatly enchances our ability to target suspicious energy sources (bugs, cameras, recorders...) hidden behind walls, picture frames, ceiling and office furniture.

With the Flir thermal camera we see things differently... The picture on the left shows a piece of drywall that could be part of a regular wall... Nothing abnormal is noticed at the naked eye... The center picture shows the same piece of material but through the lens of our Flir thermal camera. Notice the presence of heat on the surface of the drywall generated by two electronic components attached to the back of the piece which were unnoticed in the first picture. The picture at right shows the back of the drywall with the electronic components attached to it.

LORNET-24: Is a Ultra-Compact Handheld Non-Linear Junction Detector which evaluates hidden electronic devices. It transmits a signal and receives harmonic returns to detect the presence of electronics, regardless of whether or not the electronic device is radiating, hardwired, or even turned on. It is used for search and location of electronics devices both, in active and switch-off state.

CSR-1, CSR-PRO, Bug Pinger and REI CPM-700: One of our TSCM specialists "sweeping" with the CSR-1 Countermeasures Receiver. We also have in our instruments inventory, the CSR-PRO, which is capable to scan the radio frencuency spectrum up to 8 GHz and the REI CPM-700. These portable instruments are used to detect R.F. transmitters ("bugs") and wiretaps. They include "RF", "V.L.F." , "Carrier Current" and "Infrared" detection modes.

The Bug Pinger is used to sweep and find the "bugs", works like a sonar submarine...

camerahunter

Camera Hunter VS-125 and VS-123: Detects wireless video transmissions in four different bands (900 MHz,1.2, 2.4 and 5.8 GHz) simultaneously, up to 300 ft. from the signal source. We use it to check for video signals outside and inside of the sensitive areas. This is a good complement to the video signal detection capabilities of the OSCOR. We use also a laser camera lens detector to check for wired cameras inside the sensitive areas.

Cell Scanner SH-055UMW: This instrument allow us to detect cellular phone and GPS signals in a sensitive area. After turning off and disconecting the batteries of all cellular phones in the location, this instrument will indicate if there is any device generating cell signals. If that is the case the adjustable sensor of the instrument will indicate how close it is from the device either by scalonating lights or with beeping sound signals that vary depending on the distance from the instrument to the suspicious device. It checks all cell and GPS bands available today...

XSweeper: The X Sweeper is a completely unique nearfield test receiver (mini- spectrum analyzer up to 3 GHz), it is a self tuning receiver/demodulator (sweeper) using multiple swept harmonic LO frequencies that enable it to lock on to virtually any two-way FM signal in less than one second.

XPLORER: With its amazingly quick sweeping speed is one of the most sensitive nearfield instruments of its kind in the market today. Automatically locks on any active FM frequency in the nearfield, demodulating its audio.

This is a special magnet scanner (PAL) that we use to check for electronic devices magnetically attached to metallic surfaces on furniture and vehicles. Works very efficiently during vehicle inspections to detect electronic surveillance devices (trackers/GPS) attached to the sides and bottom of the chassis of the vehicle.

Please email us with your concerns...

SpectroGuard

10073 NW 11th Manor, Coral Springs, FL 33071

Phone 954-752-1577

Email: info@SpectroGuard.com

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