In our high tech world, what was once a complicated
electronic task is no longer such a big deal. I'm talking
about "bugging". No, I don't mean annoying people; I mean
planting electronic listening devices for the purpose of
eavesdropping. Bugging an office is a relatively simple
process if one follows a few basic steps.
First, a person needs to select the bug. There are
many different types of bugs ranging from the infinity bug
with which you can listen in on a telephone conversation from
over 200 miles away to an electaronic laser beam which can
pick up the vibrations of a person's voice off a window pane.
The infinity bug sells for $1,000 on the black market and the
laser for $895. Both, however, are illegal.
Second, one needs to know where to plant the bug. A bug
can be hidden in a telphone handset, in the back of a desk
drawer, etc. The important thing to remember is to place the
bug in a spot near where people are likely to talk. The bug
may be useless if it is planted too far away from
conversations take place.
Last one needs to know how to plant the bug. One of the
most common ways is to wire a 9-volt battery to the phone's
own microphone and attaching it to a spare set of wires that
the phone lines normally contain. This connection enables
the phone to be live on the hook, sending continuous room
sounds to the eavesdropper.
It used to be that hidden microphones and concealed tape
recorders were strictly for cops and spies. Today such
gadgets have filtered down to the jealous spouse, the nosy
neighbor, the high-level executive, and the local politician.
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