Technical Surveillance Countermeasures (TSCM) – Bug Sweeps

Think someone might be watching or listening?

We offer Technical Surveillance Countermeasures (TSCM), commonly known as “bug sweeps,” to detect and neutralize electronic spying devices. In an era of tiny hidden cameras and wireless transmitters, illegal surveillance has become a threat to businesses and private citizens alike. If you’re worried that your privacy is compromised – whether it’s a competitor bugging your office, an ex-partner planting a GPS tracker on your car, or someone eavesdropping in your home – our TSCM experts can find the bugs and give you back your privacy.

Our team uses state-of-the-art detection equipment and follows advanced protocols to sweep for all types of covert devices. This includes RF (radio frequency) spectrum analyzers, hidden camera lens detectors, thermal scanners, and more. We systematically search every inch of the area or item in question, and we have experience finding devices that are expertly concealed in everyday objects. Our bug sweep service covers homes, offices, conference rooms, vehicles, phones, and computers – anywhere someone might hide a surveillance tool.

What we do during a bug sweep:

• Physical & Electronic Search – We conduct a thorough physical inspection of the environment (looking for anything out of place, wires, or tiny electronics in walls, furniture, decor, etc.) and use electronic scanning to pick up signals from hidden transmitters. Many bugs emit radio or cellular signals; our equipment will detect these even if the device is cleverly hidden. We also use thermal and infrared imaging to find anomalies (for example, a powered device generating heat behind a wall).
• Hidden Camera Detection – Hidden cameras can be as small as a pinhole and easily missed by an untrained eye. We utilize special lens detectors and lighting techniques to locate camera lenses, even those not actively transmitting. Recently, we swept an office and found a micro-camera tucked into an air vent. We’ll find and point out any camera devices, and help you remove them.
• GPS Tracker & Audio Bug Detection – For vehicles or personal items, we scan for GPS trackers and listen for audio bugs. GPS trackers often ping cell networks – we can sweep a car’s exterior and interior, wiring, wheel wells, bumpers, and engine compartment to discover any attached tracker. Audio bugs might be embedded in telephones or electronic devices; we test phone lines for hot mics and examine common bugging spots like under desks or inside power outlets. By the end of our sweep, you can be confident that no unauthorized device remains active.
• Electronic Device Sweep – Sometimes the “bug” isn’t a physical bug at all, but spyware on your phone or computer. As a complement to our digital forensics services, we can scan your smartphones, laptops, and tablets for spyware or malware that could be monitoring your communications. If you’re concerned about stalkerware or malicious software, we’ll check your devices and help secure them (this can be part of a holistic TSCM service, since modern eavesdropping can be purely digital).

After completing a sweep, we provide you with a full report of what was found (hopefully nothing!), and our recommendations to enhance your security. The peace of mind our clients feel after a clean sweep is immense – or, if we do find something, we’ll assist in documenting it for law enforcement and ensuring it’s removed safely.

Who might need a bug sweep? Attorneys sometimes request TSCM services to secure legal war rooms or confidential client meetings. Businesses use sweeps to protect trade secrets during product development or mergers. High-profile individuals or anyone experiencing stalking/harassment may need their home or car swept for trackers or bugs. Even hotel rooms or Airbnbs can be swept if you suspect hidden cameras. If you have even a gut feeling that someone could be spying on you, don’t ignore it – call us to schedule a professional bug sweep in Austin or anywhere in Central Texas. We’ll help ensure your private life truly stays private.