Laser Beam Eavesdropping – Sci-fi Bugs?
by Kevin D. Murray - CPP, CFE, BCFE

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Eavesdrop from afar, merely by pointing at a window. The idea is alluring to some, horrific to others.

News media reports of just such a bugging device, based on laser beam technology, have been circulating for some time now. A litany of claims “...can hear from miles away,” and compound-claims “...through closed windows,” culminates with the coda “No one is safe.”

Like the X-Ray vision glasses of comic book fame, laser beam eavesdropping claims tend to be exaggerated. But, like the concept of X-Ray vision, laser listening can be accomplished with the right equipment and conditions.


A Century Old Invention.

April 26th, 1880 – Alexander Graham Bell & Sumner Tainter announce their invention - the Photophone. Sound is transmitted on reflected light-rays a distance of 213 meters. They also claim, “it can transmit songs with great purity of tone.” This is the forerunner of CDs, DVDs, fiber optic telephone transmission, and remote eavesdropping.


Physics 101 (simplified)

Sound is transmitted by vibration. When you speak, you vibrate the air. The air, in turn, vibrates everything it contacts. Certain objects, eg. windows and mirrors, pick up vibrations very easily. When a laser light beam hits such an object, it vibrates also as it reflects and continues its trip. The reflected, vibrating beam can be received; electronically processed; and then listened to. Under controlled conditions, very high quality audio can be recovered.


Physics 202 (real world, real problems)

Bouncing an invisible laser beam off a window, and attempting to catch the reflection, is a little like playing 3-D billiards – blindfolded. The fun increases exponentially with distance from the target. As if this doesn't make reception difficult enough... the greater the angle of incidence, the greater the distortion of the received sound.

All sound will vibrate a window. This includes interior conversations as well as exterior noises (cars, trucks, birds, etc.). Audio laboratory processing equipment can attenuate this effect, to a degree. We found, if the outside noise is as loud as the conversation indoors audio processing techniques are of marginal assistance.

Reflecting a beam off interior room objects helps reduce external sound, however, the beam loses power with each pane of glass it passes through. This reduces effective working distances and increases the number of reflected beams with which one must cope. Thick glass and thermo-pane glass, as used in office buildings, does not conduct sound vibrations as well as thin residential plate glass.

Air thermals, dust, wind, fog and rain disrupt laser beams. The greater the beam length, the greater the disruption. Wind blowing through a laser beam, we found, generates noise similar to the cacophony of airplane engines.

A laser beam (one powerful enough for professional eavesdropping) is the Neutron Bomb equivalent of a sharp stick in the eye. Both can blind you, but the laser leaves the eye standing. Blinding the subject of a surveillance is not the best way of assuring a continued stream of information while remaining unnoticed. We used safety goggles during our tests.


Update

Advancements in signal processing have been made since 1988, however, the physics problems mentioned above remain.

Consider trying to use laser eavesdropping in a business environment. Thick, double pane windows (which don't open). Loud streel noise. Few opportunities to face a target window at a right angle. There must be better ways to eavesdrop and spy,” I hear you say. There are.

The laser beam is not your worst (or only) enemy. When it comes to your privacy and information security keep your outlook holistic. Don't overlook age-old espionage techniques – like burglary, sex and blackmail.


The Future

Eavesdropping-from-afar technologies such as laser beam, microwave, ultra-wideband will get better with age. We don't discount them. Our clients know this topic has our serious attention and we will continue to keep them informed of new developments – with a realistic perspective.

What will the future bring?
Interception of brainwaves comes to mind...
or, was that something you were thinking just now?

Beat the Beam

If you still suspect a laser beam eavesdropping attempt is being made against you, fight back...

            • Hold confidential conversations in a room without windows.
            • Place a radio against the window and close the drapes, or
            • Install a white noise generator on the window pane.
            • Of course, do not discuss your suspicions within the target area.
            • Contact a professional Information Security Consultant for additional assistance. Your problems are more extensive than you think.



About the author...

Kevin D. Murray - CPP, CFE,  BCFE has been solving electronic eavesdropping, security and counterespionage matters for business and government since 1973.

His many written works include: the Electronic Eavesdropping Detection chapter of The Protection of Assets Manual; articles for Security Management magazine; Electronic Eavesdropping Detection and Industrial Espionage – The Missing Business School Courses, and Top 10 Spybusting Tips - That The Snoops Don’t Want You To Know.

His course - Electronic Eavesdropping Detection & Industrial Espionage was created for the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York.

Mr. Murray is a frequent board member of the International Association of Professional Security Consultants, and an advisor to the Espionage Research Institute.

Although he complains about being too busy, there always seems to be time for experimenting with new technologies and an afternoon espresso.

Mr. Murray may be reached by mail, at P.O. Box 668, Oldwick, NJ  08858 (USA), via email - murray@spybusters.com, or at http://www.spybusters.com

Murray Associates services are available throughout North America, EU countries and other selected foreign countries. Engagement enquiries invited from corporate and governmental entities only.

© 1988 – 2008, Kevin D. Murray, CPP - Reprint permission granted if article is reprinted in full - including the About the author section, and a copy of the final product is forwarded to Murray Associates. Thank you for your cooperation.