The ComSec TSCM Technical Surveillance Countermeasure survey is a systematic physical and electronic examination of a designated area by trained and qualified Counter Surveillance Specialist utilizing electronic equipment in an effort to locate any device used for surreptitious surveillance.

TSCM is a highly specialized field and requires substantial electronic eavesdropping detection equipment, specifically designed for detection of various technical surveillance devices. It also requires extensive knowledge, training, and experience. Most individuals who perform these services are former military, govt, or civilian electronic experts who utilize their skills in the detection of these devices. The typical investment in equipment alone for a professional TSCM Counter Surveillance Specialist is usually in the $200,000 to $300,000 range.

What is interesting to note is that this is a multi billion dollar underground industry. Involving the manufacture, sales, installation and monitoring of illegal surveillance devices used in Corporate, Economic & Industrial Espionage. This is according to current government estimates, and is actually the tip of the iceberg.

Click here to review the 2002 Report to Congress on Economic & Industrial Espionage  *Note This is the last year that the U.S.Government even Attempted to put a number on the combined costs of foreign and domestic economic espionage, including the theft of intellectual property, as high as $300 billion per year and rising.

Illegal surveillance is rampant and is occurring in epidemic proportions. Everyone is bugging everyone else, from spouses in domestic disputes to businesses in competition, and is virtually rampant in lawsuits. The interesting note is that the naiveté of even the average professional person is that this type of surveillance does not exist to any significant degree and is a rare occurrence. This lack of belief provides a fertile ground of basically easy pickings for the potential eavesdropper representing little risk of detection or prosecution.

The following are typical protocol areas used during a TSCM Survey-Bug Sweep, and the typical types of equipment used in that protocol. The equipment we use and maintain in our inventory is noted.

Amplitude Domain: This type of equipment is used to measure variations in voltage, amperage, resistance, capacitance, inductance current levels and general basic electronic measurements. This equipment consists of analog, digital voltmeters, amp meters, multi-meters, and various other types of electronic test equipment. We maintain an extensive inventory of electronic test equipment including test, evaluation and diagnostic equipment up to and including lab quality devices.

Time Domain: This type of equipment is used to measure and evaluate signals received during a specific time period. The most common instruments are oscilloscopes, and the time domain reflectometers. We maintain in our TSCM inventory several types of time domain reflectometers and oscilloscopes.

Frequency Domain: This type of TSCM equipment is used to locate RF energy in the radio frequency spectrum, performing basic measurements of those signals. The purpose is to evaluate the frequency parameters used by the signal, and how the signal relates to other signals which may occupy nearby frequencies. The most common type of instrument used to evaluate the frequency domain is a spectrum analyzer, or RF receiver.

Modulation Domain: This type of TSCM equipment is used to maintain and read a signal demodulating the signal for evaluation. The most common instruments used are search receivers, intercept receivers, scanners, and various modulation devices.

Various SigSpace Domain: This type of TSCM equipment is used to identify the source and/or relative direction of specific signals. The most common instruments are directional antennas, direction finding equipment, near field probes, wave guides and mixers, and other devices which will detect the path of a signal.

Physical Domain: This type of TSCM equipment is used to conduct in depth examinations of various artifacts and items. The most common instruments of this type are non-linear junction detectors, portable x-ray equipment, bore scopes, infrared viewers, thermal imaging systems, and other equipment used to conduct interior inspections.

Audio Domain: This type of equipment is used to evaluate audio signals that may be present in a specific area or in any conductive material. This includes audio amplifiers, filters, transducers, and other related devices. We maintain a variety of amplifiers, filters, various transducers, contact microphones, acoustic leakage detectors and a variety of other devices designed to detect and evaluate audio signals.

Telco Domain: This type of TSCM equipment is used in the analysis of telephone instruments, telephone wiring, telephone systems, transmission lines, and other metallic conductors which would allow communications. This equipment includes telephone system analyzers, telephone test sets, tone generators, inductive tracking equipment, and other various instruments used in the communications industry.

Power Domain: This type of TSCM equipment is used to inspect, and evaluate power lines, and the associated circuit systems such as circuit breaker panels, transformers and AC circuits. We maintain an extensive inventory of standard electrician test equipment in addition to a number of detection devices specifically designed for electronic countermeasures work to detect and evaluate any anomalies.

Digital and Data Communications Domain: This type of TSCM equipment is used to detect and evaluate data information. This includes various signal analyzers, network analyzers, cable analyzers, digital monitoring and counting devices, and instruments that monitor both the extent and the content of data communications signals. We maintain a variety of detection and evaluation devices including digital and data counting devices, several signal and network analyzers in addition to many standard computer and data identification and evaluation devices.

Additional: As a professional electronic countermeasures company, ComSec LLc also uses a substantial amount of proprietary electronic test and detection TSCM equipment not listed, and not generally available to the public.