Introduction
Understanding how electronic bugs work is crucial for both privacy and security. This infographic, Electronic Bugs 101, breaks down the essential components and functionalities of surveillance devices, covering their power sources, types of transmissions, and how they interact with the electromagnetic spectrum. Whether battery-powered or electrically powered, these devices come in various forms and operational modes, from active transmitters to passive recorders.
Our infographic provides a comprehensive overview, making it easier to grasp the intricacies of electronic surveillance and how to detect and counter these covert devices. Dive in to learn more about how these bugs operate and the best ways to protect your privacy.
Power Source
Battery-Powered: These devices are not ideal for long-term surveillance unless someone has access to replace the battery.
Historically, battery-operated devices would last a couple of hours to a month. While battery technology has improved, it still is not a long-term solution.
Electric-Powered: Devices powered by electricity can last indefinitely as long as they remain connected to a power source.
They can be connected to an electrical line in a building or powered by a vehicle’s battery or an independent battery.
Active vs. Passive
Active (Transmitting): These devices transmit information in real-time through a continuously broadcasted signal, making them easier to detect.
Some transmitters can act passively, recording data and bursting it out periodically or all at once.
Passive (Non-Transmitting):
These devices do not transmit information but record it internally, akin to a tape recorder.
The person deploying the device must retrieve it to access the recorded information, making it undetectable by RF detectors.
Transmissions
- Live: The simplest to detect, these devices transmit a constant signal.
- Bursting: These devices transmit intermittently to reduce the chance of detection. They might transmit signals every few minutes or hours.
- Scheduled: These devices limit detection by transmitting at scheduled times, for example, early morning.
Electromagnetic Spectrum
The graphic explains that surveillance devices can operate on various parts of the electromagnetic spectrum, from radio waves to gamma rays.
Some RF detectors might only cover a small segment of this spectrum, missing devices transmitting on higher or lower frequencies.