Quote of the Week - On Bug Sweeps

"...if a client thinks they are being 'bugged' at home or work you would be remiss if all you did was 'sweep' the office for listening devices." Ed Stroz, quoted in "Private Investigations in the Information Age" (more)
 

Ed is correct. There are many ways information leaks out and secrets are stolen. A good counterespionage specialist take this into consideration. However, the inspection for electronic surveillance devices comes first. 

Why are sweeps done first?

• Bugging is the easiest intelligence collection technique to discover.

• To eliminate (or prove) bugging before accusing people.

And, why are the most effective sweeps conducted pro-actively?

• Intelligence collection is a leisurely process. Conversations and information are collected – in many ways – long before they are used against you. Until this collected intelligence is used, no harm is done. No losses suffered. Pro-active sweeps detect snooping early – thus, drastically reducing the potential for loss.

• Smart clients don't wait until they "think they are being bugged."

• Losses are always more costly than bug sweeps.