Those of us in the investigative and intelligence gathering fields refer to October as Clean Up Month. It’s this time of year when telecom, software and security related technology firms release new editions of their products.
(In our two-part series this week, we explore a) the situations and people most likely to be covertly surveilled (at the end of this article, we list the FBI‘s top professions most likely to encounter bugging situations) and b) next week, we provide you with 25 tip-offs to potential bugging in your home, vehicle or office.)
Given the proliferation and ease of use now of “bugging” devices, the probability of being secretly recorded is higher than ever. So who is most likely to get bugged?
In Business
- Companies that have publicly traded stock (even more at risk, those about to IPO)
- Corporate entities experiencing labor problems, union activities or are in negotiation situations.
- Companies involved in any type of litigation or lawsuit.
- Businesses anticipating layoffs
- Companies involved in the fashion, automotive, advertising or marketing industries.
While anyone can be the target of covert eavesdropping, some people are at a higher risk thank other because of financial status, occupation, legal or domestic situation. These targets may include:
- Spouses tend to secretly monitor each other (especially if involved in a divorce, child custody case or other serious financial position).
- Parents bugging kids
- Students bugging professors
- Business people bug each other
- Insurance companies but accident victims and other claimants
- Salespeople bug their clients
This list goes on ad infinitum, so when should you be seriously concerned?
You (and or someone close to you) is or have been:
- Involved in any type of litigation or lawsuit
- Been questioned or arrested by the police
- In the process of getting married, divorced, separated or recently widowed
- Running for ay type of elected public office
- Recently filed an insurance claim
- Are an executive or scientist at any large company
- Engaged in political demonstrations or activism
- Are in the upper income bracket
- Private investigators have been digging into your information
Extreme High Risk Businesses (citing the FBI):
Materials:
- Materials synthesis and processing
- Electronic and photonic materials
- Ceramics
- Composites
- High-performance metals and alloys
Manufacturing:
- Flexible computer-integrated manufacturing
- Intelligence processing equipment
- Micro- and nano-fabrication
- Systems management technologies
Information and Communications:
- Software
- Micro and optoelectronics
- High-performance computing and networking
- High-definition imaging and displays
- Sensors and signal processing
- Data storage and peripherals
- Computer simulation and modeling
Biotechnology and Life Sciences:
- Applied molecular biology
- Computational Chemistry
- Medical technology
Transportation:
- Aeronautics
- Surface transportation technologies
Energy and enviroment:
- Energy technologies
- Pollution minimization, remediation and waste management
Finally, we look at those professions that are particularly target for covert surveillance.
High Threat Occupations (again, according to the FBI):
- Attorney
- Doctor
- Chiropractor
- Dentist
- Architect
- Police Officer
- Court Clerk
- Judge
- Elected official
- Mayor
- Selectman
- School Principal
- Professor
- Product Engineer
- Software Developer
- Executive/Scientist at a large development company
- Employees at defense contracting companies
- Ministers and other religious leaders
- Corporate Buyer or Purchasing Agent
- Labor or Union Official
- Fashion employees
- Advertising personnel
- Personnel managers
Next week, in Part II of this series, we will define 25 “tip-off” clues that you or your business may be bugged.
Paranoia is unnecessary; vigilance required.
Our Operatives: Street smart, tech savvy.
As always, stay safe.
Filed under: cyber crime, data, security, Spying Equipment, surveillance, taped recordings, tapped Tagged: | bugging, Business, fbi, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Government Communications Security Bureau, high risk professions, surveillance equipment
