Professional Development TSCM Group Inc.

Recognizing the Signs

Before any action can be taken, it is necessary to have an awareness and understanding of the various signs that often indicate that a compromise is occurring, or has previously occurred.

If you have the uneasy feeling that your private and confidential correspondence, conversations, communications, or other forms of information are not as private as you would like, you may be the victim of one of the many forms of covert electronic or other form of surveillance.

If you have reason to believe your conversations or private information are being compromised, you likely should contact our office and contract our professional TSCM services.

Our experience indicates that many of our clients have had a feeling or other unclear indications that something was wrong, but had little in the way of factual evidence, leading to hesitation in contacting our office until considerable information had been compromised and this become evidence.

At this point the damage has been done and often the eavesdropper is long gone and little can be done to identify the true extent of the loss of critical business or personal information.

Why Contact Our Technical Security Branch (TSB)?

It must be understood that you may observe one (1) or more of the following compromise identifiers and that these may or may not indicate the existence of an actual technical compromise.

Alternately, there may not be any identifiable indications of compromise at all and you may well be compromised.

It is for this reason that a due diligence, pro-active approach in implementing a regular TSCM program is essential to detect, identify, and resolve any potential technical compromises that may exist within your business operation or personal activities.

It is our experience that many clients tend to wait too long when he / she believes that a valid compromise may exist.

We recommend that you contact our office as soon as possible when you have determined that you may have been compromised. This approach can minimize the loss of personal or business information and perhaps provide peace of mind in knowing whether or not a compromise exists.

Please remember to contact our office from outside the compromised area or facility to avoid tipping off the eavesdropper.

• Confidential information appears to have become common knowledge.

• Others know about your personal and private business affairs.

• You experience an unexplained break-in and nothing appears to be taken.

• Door or window locks appear to have been tampered with or left vulnerable.

• Interference has developed on your television (off air signals, not cable).

• A radio has started drifting off frequency or interference has recently developed.

• Evidence suggests that ceiling tiles or panels have been removed.

• Debris or dry-wall powder is observed on the floor or furniture.

• Wall plate covers for telephone, switches, and outlets appear to have been removed and replaced.

• You notice unusual tones, sounds, or noise (static) on your telephone.

• You notice changes in the volume or line quality when on the telephone.

• You detect possible surveillance around your residence or place of business.

• Information has come to light to suggest illegal monitoring may be occurring.

• Due diligence in conducting periodic TSCM inspections.