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View: SCANNING
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* Samurai Cat *
* Presents *
* *
* "SCANNING" *
* *
* The art of non-selective intervention. *
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I would first like to make it clear that I am not talking about war-
dialing when I use the term "scanning." Several years ago a fairly good
science fiction film called "Scanners" was shown around the country. It
dealt with people who could "scan," i.e., telepathically read the thoughts
of other people in the area. The concept provided a unique look into some
very private worlds.
Unfortunately, I cannot show you how to read minds, but I can report on
the next best thing. Please bear in mind this is for informational
purposes only, many of the ideas detailed here are illegal, but people are
carrying them out...
This particular form of scanning is simply electronic surveillance of no
particulalr target. Why would anyone scan? Well, some people are just
naturally curious, while others have a more direct reason...
For instance, a couple of years ago a man staying in a cheap hotel in San
Francisco's "rough" district, the Tenderloin, was arrested after arguing
with a counterman in the hotel's sleazy diner. The argument was only over
a $3.00 breakfast. Even so, the man became so infuriated he went back to
his room, got a pistol and proceeded to threaten the waiter.
Needless to say, the waiter suddenly changed his viewpoint about the
relative principles involved in the argument. He also called the cops
approximately two seconds after the pistol waving tennant retired from the
diner.
The cops kicked in the hotel door and arrested the man. Under his bed
they found $175,000 in cash along with two ounces of heroin. The man had
been staying there for a week pushing smack...
Now just suppose you had been scanning the hotel and picked up on this
activity. Exactly how long would it have bothered you conscience to have
gone in during the ill-fated breakfast and borrowed the money?
A day? Two days? 27 minutes?
Scanning is done in concentric circles; one begins with the largest
possible "data base" and proceeds to narrow it down to any points of
interest.
A typical scanner operates in a high density area; an apartment complex, a
high rise building with windows that open or balconies, a large
hotel/motel.
Many scanners start with a long distance probe. This is usually
accomplished with the artificial aid of a shotgun or parabolic mic, and a
good amplifier/tape recorder.
To put the probe into operation, the operator darkens his room as much as
possible, opens the window, and if necessary, puts a view-killing, but
transparent audio curtain over the opening. He then positions his long
distance "ear" so it aims into an area of interest. Normally, the scanner
will monitor the unit, recording everything for later analysis. This
allows him to slowly check out a full 180 degree area for interesting
pockets of information.
If there is one area of particular interest, say a meeting room, or a
certain apartment, automatic scanning can be emloyed by simply aligning
the mic for best reception and then setting up a voice activated recorder
so recording will commence only when audio is available. This procedure,
while limiting the scope of the probe, automatically condenses days down
into mere minutes...
Remember, a good shotgun mic can sometimes, under optimum conditions,
actually pick up conversations from behind a CLOSED window.
Once an interesting conversation is recorded the scanner narrows his
procedures down to more efficient methods of data collection. It should
be noted that scanners usually make a written log, as well as an audio (or
video) recording of all probes so any conversation can later be traced
back to its source.
Another very illegal method utilized by scanners is to take a small
cassette recorder and equip it with an auto-phone start that turns the
recorder on when a target phone is lifted off the hook. The entire unit
is then loaded with fresh batteries and sealed inside a metal box. Often
the scanner will paint the box an innocuous shade of black or grey and
stencil something to the effect of "Southwestern Bell" (or whatever telco
organization is within his sphere of operation) on the side. Then he
locks the entire unit with a padlock, leaving only two small wires visible
on the outside.
The box is then mounted on a wall near a phone terminal box in the
basement of an apartment complex. Or it can be attached to a telephone
pole near a terminal board or "B" box (secondary terminal unit located
some distance from the target's phone). Most telco employees, even if
they happen to spot the unit, will not disturb it if it looks offical
enough... A lack of communication in the phone company?
The scanner then attaches his two wires to a pair of terminals, or
telephone wires (the green and red pair) and goes about his business. At
the end of a day or two, he returns to the scene of the crime, removes his
cassette tape, and moves the wire leads to another set of contacts.
Many scanners will even go to the trouble of obtaining a telco lineman's
handset and/or climbing harness, leather tool belt, and so on, to avoid
detection if they are spotted fooling around with telephone company
equipment. When was the last time you questioned a lineman?
In this fashion, the scanner can get an inside glimpse of a number of
telephone conversations. If he stumbles across something of interest, he
then consults his log for the wire number, checks with CNA, or the telco
computer (an auto readback system operated by the phone company can be
gotten from a friendly employee) to get numbers, names and addresses.
Outgoing calls can be deciphered by simply slowing down the recorder and
counting the numbers of pulses or comparing the tones to a recording of a
touchtone phone.
A more direct method is to employ one of the through-the-wall type devices
to check out the neighbors. Many scanners carry such a device with them
in case they check into a motel, or visit a friend's apartment.
OPPORTUNITY IS POWER
In room-to-room scanning a log is, again kept. If the scanner feels
anything is/will be of interest he will often run down the identity of the
targets by tracing their license numbers or whatever means available and
enters the finding in the log for later perusal.
Another favorite scanner trick is to place a bug, either one with long
lasting batteries, or an AC current operated model, in a room where
something of interest might conceivably happen in the future. Targets of
this type of scanning would be conference rooms, a "hot" switchboard, or
even in an expensive motel room.
Scanners have been known to unscrew the front plate of an electric socket
in any hotel room they have the opportunity to stay in, install a
not-too-expesive current drive bug and then "check in" whenever the mood
strikes them...
Short time scanning is another approach; for instance, a scanner drapes
his coat over a chair in a public place (restaurant, library, etc.) and
leaves his briefcase (which is of course equipped with a recorder) on the
table. Upon his return, he retires to the restroom or other private place
to peruse the conversations of his neighbors.
A live angle is to constuct a mini-shotgun mic, or purchase something like
the Viking Shotgun. Place it in a briefcase, wrapped package or nylon
bag, run the earphone up your sleeve, under your shirt and into the
nearest ear. In this manner the conversations of people at nearby tables
(restaurant or bar), passersby (airport, hotel lobby, swimming pool) or
even people accomplishing a specific functon (say at a bank teller's
window) can be actively monitored in real time, from a safe distance.
It is also possible to secrete a small transmitter inside of a number of
common objects (books, wrapped packages, articles of clothing, etc.) which
can be "left behind" on counters, under desks and tables, or in plain
sight. In this instance the scanner simply sits within range and monitors
the transmission.
It is also possible to hard-wire a mic in any area to be placed under
surveillance and simply listen in, except the risk is visibly increased as
wires can be traced. Several motel owners have been arrested for this
very thing.
Of course it also possible to visual scan with the aid of telescopes,
binoculars, video recorders, and night vision devices, but the information
gained in this manner is often very limited unless matched with its audio
counterpart.
Scanners are often creative, I know one person who built a large white
parabolic mic. He then mounted it on the roof of his building, pointing
upward. To all outside appearances it appeared to be a satellite dish.
Then day by day he gradually aimed his "dish" a few degrees earthward,
until it was pointing in the direction of the apartment complex next
door. By this time the neighbors were used to seeing the device and
accepted it totally. My friend equipped his "dish" with a voice activated
recorder.
What do scanners learn? Frankly I don't know, anything is possible. One
way to look at the entire phenomenon is that they are simply extending the
range of their five senses. After all, they aren't hearing anything that
isn't said of someone's own free will. Another view of the same situation
is that they are nosy vultures, who are leeching private data illegally.
Regardless of your loyalties, realize the procedures do exist. If you
want to keep from from being scanned; KEEP YOUR BIG MOUTH SHUT!