Guide to DIY Wiretapping

Geeks are Sexy writes "ITSecurity.com has a nice piece this week on how wiretapping works and how you can protect yourself from people who wants to snoop into your life. From the article 'Even if you aren't involved in a criminal case or illegal operation, it's incredibly easy to set up a wiretap or surveillance system on any type of phone. Don't be surprised to learn that virtually anyone could be spying on you for any reason.'" Maybe I'm on the wrong track here, but I guess I assumed that wiretapping now happened in secret rooms at the telco, and not by affixing something physically to a wire in your home, but I'll definitely be aware next time I hear a stranger breathing next time I'm stuck on hold.

Comments

Hear a stranger breathing?

[Anonymous Coward]

If someone is dumb enough to leave the microphone connected on an intercept phone, they deserve to get caught.

Re:Hear a stranger breathing?

[Lost Penguin]

You sneeze while on the phone with your friend, and hear "gesundheit".... twice.

Re:Hear a stranger breathing?

[BadHaggis]

To the stranger listening on my phone.

Please provide a transcript of the shopping list my wife just gave me. I think that I may have forgotten to write something down.

No thanks...

[Psmylie]

I'll hold off on trying any of their wiretapping suggestions until they release guides on "DIY Legal defense" and "How to Avoid Getting Buggered in a Federal Prison".

Still, if you're feeling paranoid, by all means check your phones. It's true, nosy neighbors could indeed be spying on you. Never underestimate the average person's voyeurism urges...

A blast from the past

[chemosh6969]

It's the 90s bomb making/revenge/wiretapping text file guides all over again. Only this time it's Web 2.0

Re:voltage drop

[smooth wombat]

True story: I have a cordless phone and one time I was talking with my mom and the phone acted a bit weird. She sounded somewhat quieter and there seemed to be static. I shook the phone thinking there was a loose connection and the static was gone but her voice was still quieter.

She asked me what was going on and I told her, "Eh, must be the wiretap on my phone."

As far as I can tell, I have not had that problem since that time.

*cue spooky music*

Wireless phone = more fun

[Chyeld]

Couple of years ago, one of my neighbors narced on me because they thought I was playing video games too loud. This led to me getting a set of wireless headphones to listen to TV with.

It completely surprised me the first time I put them on and couldn't get them to tune into the TV's transmitter because all the channels were full of wireless phone conversations.

Sadly, none of my neighbors have any secrets worth listening to. And even worst, most of them seem to have no issues with taking the phone into the shitter with them :/

In revenge, I've hooked up the transmitter to a cheap dvd player and leave anime porn running on a loop just before going to work, every few days....

Re:Wireless phone = more fun

[apparently]

In revenge, I've hooked up the transmitter to a cheap dvd player and leave anime porn running on a loop just before going to work, every few days.

But at the end of the day, you're still a dude who owns anime porn. FAIL.

DIY wire tapping?

[Thelasko]

Why would I want to wiretap myself?

Re:voltage drop

[noidentity]

It's even simpler in the USA to find out if the line is tapped. If the year is 2000 or later, it is.

Listen for breathing???

[gatkinso]

That won't help me: all my calls consist of heavy breathing.