# Counterspying: How to detect a bug? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 28, 2005, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/counterspying-how-to-detect-a-bug/314575 "2005-07-28T13:32:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Caffeine.addict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f475e1/32.png) [@Caffeine.addict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caffeine.addict)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2005, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/counterspying-how-to-detect-a-bug/314575/21 "2005-08-02T17:09:02Z")
> [@](#): > > We pretty much ruled out a human being as the spy since the room is enclosed in glass…it would be very hard to spy like that. Is he a lip reader. If he is in a spot where he can observe the people in the room. He might be able to simply read their lips and follow the conversation. ---
**Author:** ![Seven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Seven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seven)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2005, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/counterspying-how-to-detect-a-bug/314575/22 "2005-08-03T05:34:03Z")
Before you check the walls, phones, and computers, you might want to check [this page](http://www.truthold.com/health.php?subaction=showfull&id=1120951466&archive=&start_from=&ucat=2&). Got any strange scabs on yer head? 😃 Of all the ideas, I’ll have to go with misinformation. You could have some real fun with that. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2005, 9:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/counterspying-how-to-detect-a-bug/314575/23 "2005-08-03T09:01:43Z")
Have everyone learn sign language? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Tomcat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Tomcat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tomcat)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2005, 9:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/counterspying-how-to-detect-a-bug/314575/24 "2005-08-03T09:16:59Z")
> [@Sage Rat](#): > > Have everyone learn sign language? :dubious: Naw, better double-dog secret business should always be conducted in Klingon. -Tcat ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2005, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/counterspying-how-to-detect-a-bug/314575/25 "2005-08-03T12:59:49Z")
Install a cone-of-silence. Seriously, if the room is enclosed with glass, your listening device might be across the street. [Laser listening device.](http://www.electromax.com/laser.html) ---
**Author:** ![meanoldman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@meanoldman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/meanoldman)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2005, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/counterspying-how-to-detect-a-bug/314575/26 "2005-08-03T13:58:23Z")
The “device” could be as simple as an ordinary cell phone, left on a table or in a corner etc. Set to silent ring and auto-answer. All one would have to do it call it, and then begin listening. More likely just a case of ‘loose lips sink ships’. ---
**Author:** ![Bongmaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Bongmaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bongmaster)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2005, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/counterspying-how-to-detect-a-bug/314575/27 "2005-08-03T19:36:30Z")
LOL, some of you guys are cracking me up! Keep in mind this is not a high tech government agency or anything…its office politics. If he’s doing anything at all its going to be inexpensive and low key. I seriously doubt he’s doing any kind of laser evesdropping with expensive equipment. I like the misinformation idea, we’ll give that a shot. How long before he comes in and mentions something that we planted? I’ll update the thread and let everyone know how it turns out. ---
**Author:** ![Declan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Declan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Declan)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2005, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/counterspying-how-to-detect-a-bug/314575/28 "2005-08-04T06:57:09Z")
> [@Bongmaster](#): > > We pretty much ruled out a human being as the spy since the room is enclosed in glass…it would be very hard to spy like that. And its not really about losing a big contract to competitors,\*\* more of someone in the office trying to get an unfair advantage by spying on the technology staff\*\*. We’re going through some big changes, this person is new, and a bunch of individuals all are thinking the same thing about this guy based both on his personality and several uncanny “conicidences” which none of us believe happened by pure chance. Any chance this individual may be socially engineering someone with access to the good stuff. Declan ---
**Author:** ![uglybeech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/82dd89/32.png) [@uglybeech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/uglybeech)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2005, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/counterspying-how-to-detect-a-bug/314575/29 "2005-08-04T07:02:24Z")
> [@Declan](#): > > Any chance this individual may be socially engineering someone with access to the good stuff. > > Declan My vote too. People with big mouths are a lot more common than bugs. ---
**Author:** ![Declan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Declan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Declan)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2005, 7:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/counterspying-how-to-detect-a-bug/314575/30 "2005-08-04T07:14:06Z")
> [@uglybeech](#): > > My vote too. People with big mouths are a lot more common than bugs. Or pillow talk , cant forget that one. Declan ---
**Author:** ![Harmonix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Harmonix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonix)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2005, 9:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/counterspying-how-to-detect-a-bug/314575/31 "2005-08-04T09:06:29Z")
Check your phone logs. At Defcon(hacker convention) a “bluetooth” sniper gun was showcased. This device(a directional antenna mounted like a gun) + a laptop was able to hack into Bluetooth enabled cell phones(a mile away through walls!). They could then be made to dial out discreetly and silently effectively making a cell phone in someone’s pocket a listening device. actually… those logs could be erased by the bluetooth sniper as well. Don’t bring cell phones into the room. You could also try voice obscuring devices like… [http://www.sonaretechnologies.com/welcome.html](http://www.sonaretechnologies.com/welcome.html) the babble. (unsure of effectiveness) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/counterspying-how-to-detect-a-bug/314575.md?page=1)