Technical Surveillance Countermeasures (TSCM)

Lennon Security Corporation performs and manages electronic countermeasures sweeps (detection of telephone/fax/computer taps) to determine the existence of actual audio and video devices and to determine the client’s vulnerability to electronic eavesdropping devices (bugs). We recommend appropriate remedial security steps to prevent future loss of technical or proprietary information.

There are two types of electronic eavesdropping inspections:

• Emergency inspections that are conducted when active eavesdropping is suspected
• Active inspections that are conducted to:
• Protect individual privacy and personal safety
• Limit windows of vulnerability
• Satisfy legal requirements for due diligence
• Establish legal eligibility for business secret status in court
• Identify emerging privacy invasion and information theft loopholes

It is difficult to estimate how many industries and individuals fall victim to illegal and unwanted surveillance. Evidence of illegal surveillance is often suppressed to avoid publicity or, in some cases, alerting the perpetrator. Many companies are unaware that industrial espionage has affected their business. Eavesdropping and video surveillance may affect several aspects of the following every day business success:

• Labor union disputes with company management
• New product or trade secrets
• Protection of trade secrets
• Negotiation of strategies
• Competitor’s knowledge of sales strategies
• Reorganization plans such as mergers or takeovers
• Corporate legal problems
• Protection of financial information
• Industrial spies from other companies and/or countries
• Employee spying on each other (peeping tom, sexual harassment, stalking)

Generally, best practice for most businesses would include a quarterly inspection. The sensitivity level of the area to be covered will dictate whether more or fewer inspections are required. A semi-annual inspection schedule is the next most common practice and an annual inspection is considered minimal for continuity purposes. Off-site meetings and other special events are scheduled on a demand basis.