FAQ

How much does it cost?

All quotes are provided on a case-by-case basis. There is no price list available. Prices will be influenced by the following

Type of search required
Depth of search required
Personnel required
Area of the search
Travel distance
Any other special requirements

Please contact me for a free, no obligation quote.

I think the Police/law enforcement have bugged me, can you help?

Absolutely not. This represents a massive conflict of interest, from both business and personal values. Should it become clear that you are trying to evade and/or frustrate law enforcement, or a law-enforcement device be found, I will immediately revoke my services without refund.

I'm a private investigator, can you plant a device for me?

Absolutely not. This again represents a massive conflict of interest, and I'd be morally bankrupt (and possibly imprisoned) to assist with such an inquiry. Please do not contact me if you are looking to plant a device, I will not help you.

Do you guarantee to find a bug?

No. I'm aware that some of my competitors offer such a guarantee, but this is misleading at best, and straight-up false advertising at worst. I'm aware of some of these guarantees having such tight T&C's that they are not worth the paper they're written on.

After a search, I will provide you with a report that will state my confidence level, which is graded from "Very High Confidence" to "Little Confidence". I will discuss what level of confidence I can provide prior to the search.

The reason for not providing a guarantee will be due to limitations of search that will be discussed prior to searching. Some customers will request that I do not take anything apart, or that I cannot remove plug sockets/ceiling tiles/vents. Other customers can only provide a narrow window to search (sometimes only an hour or two). This will obviously impact the confidence level I can provide.

I believe that with my background, I am more likely to find devices that most of my competitors. I am held to an accredited high-standard, that many in the industry have not achieved. Sadly there is no regulation of TSCM in the UK (yet), and even if you choose not to go with me, I'd exercise caution over the background of who you employ.

What happens if you find a device?

It's up to you. Before I begin searching, I will discuss what you want me to do on finding a device. Largely, your options consist of the following

Immediately disconnect/disable the device
Leave the device in situ, should you wish to begin a campaign of disinformation, for example

I will also encourage you to report it to the relevant authorities. It is entirely up to you if you wish to do so, and I understand some people have reasons and reservations for not doing so.

Optionally, I can take it back to my lab to forensically examine it. This might give some clues as to who the responsible individual is. Although, should you wish to report it to police, they will most likely seize it as evidence and possibly examine it at their own facilities.

Sometimes suspicious devices have a legitimate purpose. A common one is black-boxes in vehicles, which the previous owner has left in.

Ultimately, it is down to you. We will discuss prior to searching what action you wish me to take on a find.

Can you carry out body searches?

Yes, this is a common request ahead of secure meetings and/or interviews. A typical use case is the interview/meeting room gets swept prior to use, and then sealed/locked. Once secured, attendees get searched prior to entering to ensure everyone follows the rules set by the customer (such as phones left outside).

What advice do you offer post-search?

I will ensure that the customer is fully-briefed on good counter-surveillance measures subject to their requirement. This could include observations made during the search, or general evasion of private investigators/press, depending on the case.

Any search is only accurate at the time of the search. The very moment I leave, a bug could be planted. I offer such advice to harden security and to frustrate and defeat any attempt to place future bugs.

How long does the search take?

This really depends on specifics, once you've told me about your case I can advise how long it takes. In cases with a tight window to search, it is negotiable, but may affect the confidence level of the search. We also conduct searches overnight, particularly if that is when the building is empty.