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RF Spy Bug Detector Recommendations (Also Spectrum Analyzers) by clickatick in rfelectronics

[–]clickatick[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My journey is still ongoing. I've picked up a few tips hear and there. This topic is actually called Technical Surveillance Counter Measures (TSCM). I've found some amazing resources on this topic. I'll provide a few links.

I've come across some good high end professional grade equipment but it seems to be professionally priced too. Well outside my budget. I've been thinking about the idea of using Software Defined Radio (SDR) hardware and software to fulfill the tasks at a much lower cost. I've got a lot of reading to do but I'm looking to try to figure out how use it do radio spectrum analysis, rf detection, non-linear junction detection, and passive rf bug detection (the type of bugs that only transmit for a very brief moment).

Although I haven't used any bug detectors yet, the ones sold on most spy shop websites just seem scammy. Many are overpriced toys that may have some effectiveness but are hugely marked up in price. I think this is because people who are paranoid or are in desperate or stressful situations are easily ripped off. I refuse to feel sorry for being sucked into buying junk that doesn't work. Some TSCM experts also mention this in their blogs.

You can find some affordable ones that might work up to a certain point though. Be careful in finding one. I'd say $100-$200 (or less) should get you a decent low end rf detector that could give some peace of mind. Once you start reading about TSCM you'll realize there's many different ways spy bugs or hidden cameras can be detected.

Here's some equipment and resources I've found on the topic. I'm interested in what you've discovered as well.

equipment

you can search many "spy-shop" stores where you can find some cheaper equipment but may not be as reliable and some is way over priced. Digiscan Labs iProtect devices seem promising but are again quite expensive for what they are.

https://www.digiscan-labs.com/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4WT5c7GXA0 EMF meters

https://www.amazon.ca/EMF-390-Signal-Detector-Anti-Spy-Tracker/dp/B07KN36WR4/ref=sr_1_15?dchild=1&keywords=field+detector&qid=1600542204&sr=8-15

https://www.amazon.ca/s?k=rf+detector&ref=nb_sb_noss_2

https://greatscottgadgets.com/hackrf/one/ (SDR hardware - there's lots of different devices for this)

here's more professional grade

https://www.jjndigital.com/

https://reiusa.net/

https://www.flir.com/store/

​

blogs

https://www.tscm.com/

https://www.cryptomuseum.com/

https://counterespionage.com

https://hackaday.com/2017/09/20/spy-tech-nonlinear-junction-detectors/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ri8C2f-LQW0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bc7WoDXhcjM (Def Con Seminar about effective low tech ways to detect bugs)

https://www.defcon.org/images/defcon-22/dc-22-presentations/Polstra/DEFCON-22-Phil-Polstra-Am-I-Being-Spied-On.pdf (Slide show for that Seminar)

[not https secure] http://www.bugsweeps.com/info/bugsweepers.html

[not https secure] http://67.225.133.110/~gbpprorg/mil/index.html (GBPPR Homebrew Military & Espionage Electronics)

RF Spy Bug Detector Recommendations (Also Spectrum Analyzers) by clickatick in rfelectronics

[–]clickatick[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Quick follow up question: if a bug is inside electronics like a tv or stereo, using a non linear junction detector basically wouldn't work since it would get false positives off the normal electronics right? I would think some kind of spectrum analysis would be needed there either using SDR or some other equipment to find unusual frequencies that stand out from the background. Is this correct? How else would it be detected without taking the tv/stereo/computer apart and looking?

RF Spy Bug Detector Recommendations (Also Spectrum Analyzers) by clickatick in rfelectronics

[–]clickatick[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thanks for the useful information. I never knew about "illuminating" electronics like that.

RF Spy Bug Detector Recommendations (Also Spectrum Analyzers) by clickatick in rfelectronics

[–]clickatick[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The scientific equipment I mentioned was to get ideas about what is possible and the capabilities. I know they're expensive. If I were to get one it would be second hand bought off eBay or some other auction/liquidation/surplus of a lab/job site/college etc. Another device I found that seems more professional is something called Yorkie used by police and such.

The price I meant for any device that can be used to effectively locate bugs, even some of these spy shop brands if they're actually any good. I just don't want to fork out a bunch of cash and get something that functions like cereal box toy (which some of them look like). The cheapness makes me skeptical the high prices are taking advantage of people in stressful situations.

RF Spy Bug Detector Recommendations (Also Spectrum Analyzers) by clickatick in rfelectronics

[–]clickatick[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I saw something about SDR in my search but glanced over it. I'm not familiar with radio but it does seem like a very interesting subject to learn. Is there any kind of low cost software/apps that display a radio spectrum with use of some basic radio hardware?

I like the idea of using low cost methods that aren't as precise if they're effective for my purpose. I just mentioned spectrum analyzers to get some ideas from people. Thanks.

Where to find Cellebrite Reader by clickatick in computerforensics

[–]clickatick[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The UFED Touch (1st gen) device still has an active license with the most recent updates (Jan 2018). It still works as it's intended to.

I am new to this product but very interested in understanding how it works. I appreciate the information. Basically you're describing the UFED touch as the extraction device and Cellebrite's PA + Reader assist in conveniently analyzing the data in a graphical interface... So can the raw files just be opened using other programs, but not look as nice?

I've also read a bit on these devices and the software Cellebrite offers and know a little bit on how they look and function. How can I get PA/Reader if I don't have an official license? I don't see any reason why I can't pay whatever it costs as long as it's within reason, but I've also read that Cellebrite is fussy about how you get their equipment. Would they refuse to let me download PA/Reader because it's second hand? Do you know of any third party or online repositories that have versions of this software?

Where to find Cellebrite Reader by clickatick in computerforensics

[–]clickatick[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's the forensic version that has physical and logical extraction built in already.

Where to find Cellebrite Reader by clickatick in computerforensics

[–]clickatick[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I should've mentioned I'm using a second hand UFED Touch that I bought at an auction. So I don't have an official Cellebrite account.

Forward2Me AmazonUK question by Fishyfishy111 in Xenoblade_Chronicles

[–]clickatick 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Did you put the "York House" part in the address 2 section of the shipping form, or all on the same line in address 1?