Types of optical security attacks

The first stage of a hostile intelligence gathering exercise against a company or organisation is often lead by information that can be gained from visual intrusion or waste paper theft. QCC considers this to be classified as an optical attack.

The more sophisticated form of optical eavesdropping is the use of fibre optic microphones and laser microphone systems. Fibre optic microphones use a fibre optic light signal that is transmitted along a fibre to the microphone pick up diaphragm. The diaphragm resonates with the audio within the target area and the reflected light is fed back down a second fibre optic cable to the receiver. The reflected light contains the modulated audio and is recovered and converted to a high quality audio signal for monitoring, recording or further relaying.

Fibre optic microphones provide very high quality audio, and have no metallic or electronic components at the front end of the device. The front end component used for picking up the target audio is constructed of plastic and glass and the light used for transmission and receiving is invisible to the human eye. This type of microphone is used by eavesdroppers who wish to gain high quality audio from within a target room, and reduce the chances of detection. These types of devices are difficult to detect without specialist techniques and equipment. QCC Interscan has extensively tested these types of devices and has a countermeasure and detection protocol especially designed to detect fibre optic microphones.

High tech optical eavesdropping

The high tech end of the optical eavesdropping range is the laser microphone; these systems operate in a similar way to the fibre optic microphone. QCC has recently seen evidence of this type of technology being used very effectively against a target location Laser microphone systems are deployed from a location within line of sight to the target location, it utilises invisible laser technology to reflect and collect room audio from hard surfaces within the target room. One invisible laser beam is directed into a room and aimed at a hard surface such as a picture frame or bookcase. The audio within the room is resonating with the hard surfaces of the room and the reflected laser beam will carry the audio modulated from the target hard surface. The reflected laser is then received by a matched unit then extracts the audio from the signal.

Commercially available laser microphone systems are very expensive and are often packaged to resemble SLR photographic cameras, or telescopes. The Audio quality from these systems can be of a high standard and some electronic filtering is employed to reduce the effects of the laser beam passing through the window glazing and into the room.
Laser microphone attacks are very difficult to detect unless an inspection is actually taking place at the time of an attack. A live attack can only be detected using specialist equipment and techniques. QCC recommends suitable counter measures for clients who may be at risk from this type of attack.

Incident Response - Act Now

Act now if you suspect that you are under surveillance.

1. Cease all sensitive communications.
2. Remove yourself from the target area
3. Call QCC Interscan from a payphone on +44 0207 205 2100

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Technical Surveillance Counter Measures (TSCM)

Providers of world class TSCM (bug sweeping) services Globally. We offer professional and effective counter surveillance to keep vour valuable information safe from prying eyes.
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High Net Worth Individuals

As a high level company executive, celebrity or high net worth individual, your privacy is important. Our specialist services include TSCM (bug sweeping) services, covering residential sites and executive vehicles. We can conduct security inspections and review services for ocean going yachts, private planes, and executive motor vehicles.
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Specialist Vehicle Search

As part of our security inspection service for high profile company executives and high net worth individuals, we offer an extended security inspection service for executive vehicles. This includes all types of yachts, executive cars, limousines and private executive jets. 

We have completed increasing numbers of counter surveillance inspections and physical security reviews globally of numerous marine vessels, executive jets and company vehicles.
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This service inspects and reports on all aspects of physical security including locks, access control, CCTV, waste management, executive transportation and asset protection.  The physical security review will also cover particular areas clients direct our attention to.
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Tiger Testing is a special type of vulnerability test that originated in the United States Air Force who use it to test air base defences.

Commercial Tiger Tests are beneficial to companies and organisations to highlight true physical, procedural or technical vulnerability and are especially useful in the maintenance of particularly valuable assets.
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QCC Interscan has a dedicated telephone forensics unit offering an exclusive service to clients who are worried that their personal mobile telephones are being secretly monitored. 

Many spy shops and on line surveillance equipment suppliers offer software packages that monitor mobile telephone conversations and text messages by an unauthorised agent. These phone bugging software packages are very difficult to detect without specialist equipment and knowledge.
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High profile sports organisations and venues are known targets for illicit surveillance. Boardrooms, changing rooms, executive suites and other areas are all vulnerable when big money is at stake.
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