Glossary

Audio Surveillance Device
Surveillance "bugs" are hidden electronic devices used to capture, record, and/or transmit data to a receiving party.

Bug Detection
Counter surveillance to prevent covert surveillance. Counter surveillance may include electronic methods such as bug sweeping, (or Bug Detection) the process of detecting surveillance devices, including listening devices and visual surveillance devices.

Bug
A covert listening device, commonly known as a "bug" or "wire".

Bug Detector
A instrument designed to detect the presence of a hidden listening devices.

Bugging Device
See: Bug.

Carrier Current Transmitter
The use of a legitimate broadcast signal (frequency) to conceal the transmission of an eavesdropping device by transmitting in close proximity to the legitimate source.

Cell Phone Tap
Telephone tapping (wire tapping) is the monitoring of telephone and Internet conversations by covert means.

Counter Measures, Countermeasures or Counter Surveillance
Procedures undertaken to prevent covert surveillance. Counter surveillance includes electronic methods such as bug sweeping, the process of detecting surveillance devices, including covert listening devices and visual surveillance devices.

Eavesdropping
The act of secretly listening, either directly or by electronic means, to the private conversation of others without their consent.

Eavesdropping Detection
See: Eavesdropping.

Eavesdropping Device
See: Bug.

Electronic Countermeasures
Electronic countermeasures (ECM) includes any sort of electrical or electronic device designed to jam, trick or deceive various transmissions.

Electronic Eavesdropping
See: Eavesdropping.

Electronic Surveillance
Observation from a distance by means of electronic equipment or the interception of electronically transmitted information.

Frequency Offset
See: Carrier Current Transmitter.

Harmonica Bug
The modification of a telephones transmitter (the carbon microphone) or to the receiver (the dynamic ear piece). The phone is then used to remotely listen to conversations at the target location.

Hook Switch Bypass
See: Harmonica Bug.

Infinity Transmitter
See: Harmonica Bug.

Listening Device
See: Bug.

Parallel Wiretap
A recording or transmission device that is attached to an existing phone line. These devices are installed by cutting into the telephone cables outer jacket and splicing into the phone line.

Phone Listening Device
See: Bug.

Power Line Carrier
The use of AC Power Lines to transmit video and/or audio information.

Phone Tap
Telephone tapping is the monitoring of telephone and internet conversations by covert means.

Phone Tap Detector
See: Phone Tap.

RF Detector
An RF Detector, sometimes called an RF Probe is a device used to detect radio frequency oscillation in an electronic circuit.

RF Probe
See: RF Detector.

RF Transmitter
A transmitter using Radio Frequencies

Security Phone
Phones using algorithms to encrypt the signals. The phones have a cryptographic chip that handles encryption and decryption. Two algorithms are programmed into the chip: A key-exchange algorithm for the key agreement protocol and a symmetric-key algorithm for voice encryption.

Series Wiretap
Similar to Parallel Wiretap but easier to detect do to the additional resistance on the phone line.

Spy
AKA; Spy Device, Spy Equipment, Spy Gadget, Spy Gear, Spy Listening Device, Spy Phone, Spy Shop, Spy Store, Spy Stuff, Spy Surveillance Equipment, Spy Tech or Spy Technology. The use of the word "Spy" is a indication that the products attempting to be sold to the general public are of low quality and sometimes even useless.

Sub Rosa
"Under the Rose". Historical reference to meetings being held in secret. Commonly used as a reference to covert surveillance, i.e. Sub Rosa Investigation.

Surveillance
The act of covert observation, be it directly or by electronic means.

TSCM
Technical Surveillance Counter Measures

Third Wire Tap
See: Harmonica Bug.

Wire Tap
AKA; Telephone Wiretap and Telephone Wiretapping. To covertly record or listen to conversations, either by direct connection (tapped) or interception of wireless communication.