The easiest way for us to answer the title question is with the help of recent press reports.
18 February 2022. Radio ZET reported that the Supreme Chamber of Control, under the presidency of Marian Banaś, spent PLN 100,000 in 2020, and that the object of the purchase was anti-tapping apparatus. Is this a lot?
How much does anti-wiretapping equipment cost?
For those not at all involved in wiretapping or combating it, the sum of 100,000 zloty may seem very large. Especially if one adds to it the fact that no wiretaps at NIK have been found.
We do not want to delve into the legitimacy of the purchases directed by President Banasio’s social advisor. We will try to draw on a real-life example and shed some light on the budget involved in the detection of wiretaps.
The starting point is the lack of knowledge about what guided the institution in the selection of the anti-wiretapping apparatus – whether it was just Pegasus or maybe something else. For this reason, the topic of eavesdropping detection and the expenses involved should be looked at from a broader perspective.
Eavesdropping generally requires as many hardware solutions as the possible number of variants of eavesdroppers in use. There are exceptions to this in the form of multi-functional devices, but even these cannot cope with every ‘bug’.
Wiretaps in the broadest sense use a wide variety of technologies – some record sound on built-in memory while others send live information, others have a physical form, and still others exist only as software.
Pegasus – spyware detection on phones
Pegasus is a software solution that provides its operator with live access to all activities carried out on the eavesdropper’s mobile device. Like almost every programme, this one also leaves traces, e.g. in saved logs. A thorough check of the phones requires the right tool and a trained technician who knows what traces to look for. This involves different budgets, where, for example, the Cellebrite device, which is used, among other things, to check the contents of smartphones in detail, costs – depending on the version – between PLN 50,000 and PLN 120,000.
Detection of eavesdropping devices
Anti-wiretapping devices are mainly detection devices such as recorders, transmitters, locators etc. The variety of spy solutions available means that the collection of ‘detectors’ is also sizeable. In order to carry out a reliable investigation, it is necessary to have not only knowledge, but also specialised equipment.
We will list the absolute minimum below:
A spectrum analyser, necessary for frequency spectrum testing, is an expense of tens of thousands of zlotys. More expensive models of analysers can cost even more than 200,000 PLN. Another tool is a non-linear connector detector, enabling the location of hidden electronic devices – an expense of 40 to 100,000 PLN. This is followed by a thermal imaging and boroscopic camera – PLN 15-30k and PLN 5-20k respectively. An instrument for testing power and telephone lines will also be needed, followed by a slow-magnetic field detector and an optical camera detector – a total of around PLN 60,000. If the check is also to be carried out on cars, then a magnet detector and a mobile spectrum analyser of the likes of Mesa or Piranha will be highly useful, amounting to another PLN 30-80 000.
As can be seen, the expenditure of the Supreme Audit Office on anti-wiretapping equipment is within the bounds of reason. The fact that eavesdropping devices were not found does not necessarily indicate poorly selected equipment or unskillful use of the devices; perhaps there simply was NOTHING to look for.
Eavesdropping detection service
Anti-wiretapping apparatus is a big expense, so how else do you get rid of bugging?
An alternative to buying tools and learning how to use them efficiently and correctly is to have a specialist carry out the examination.
If you are interested in the topic, please see the post on wiretap detection for more information.
