RE: Seeking a solution for detecting hidden cameras

["Steve Armstrong" <stevearmstrong () logicallysecure com>]

Sorry for hitting this thread late, but before we start going down rabbit holes (as trying to burn out CCDs will only 
work on active items) , why not look at the correct tools:

There are plenty of commercial tools available out there to detect the connection of differing metals such as those 
found on circuit boards - regardless if they are powered or not!  

We use them when conducting sweeps for 'bugs' and other such 'planted devices'.  The "non linear junction detector" 
(the technical term for the device) will allow you to detect deep embedded devices as well as surface mounted ones (via 
power settings).  However, you should note there is the problem of the rusty nail!  An old nail will rust and thus 
contain both pure and oxide material; this can give you a false positive.  Therefore, unless you are prepared to knock 
holes in stuff, you may not wish to ask the question as to what is in the room!

The enclosed link is for one such commercial device (common in this field .  http://www.audiotel-int.com/EDD.htm) .  

So it will tell you the answer, you just have to be ready and prepared to deal with it.

Oh they are not cheap, so your best bet might be to hire someone with it, now you know what it is! :-)

HTH

Steve A

Technical Security Consultant 
Logically Secure
-----------------------------------------------
UK IT Security forum:
     www.logicallysecure.com/forum 
-----------------------------------------------


-----Original Message-----
From: listbounce () securityfocus com [mailto:listbounce () securityfocus com] On Behalf Of Yan Zhai
Sent: 13 March 2007 14:41
To: 'Pranav Lal'; security-basics () securityfocus com
Subject: Re: Seeking a solution for detecting hidden cameras

This may sound a little bit unrealistic, but how about having very strong  
light source (maybe with high intensity of UV) in the room for a while, to  
burn those hidden cameras' CCD?  I think most such cameras should have  
quite sensitive CCDs to be effective under indoor light condition.

On Mon, 12 Mar 2007 19:54:13 -0400, Murda Mcloud <murdamcloud () bigpond com>  
wrote:

> Good idea Todd. Any mesh would definitely make it messy to drill a hole.
>
> Just a thought, are there any small cameras that would have an in built
> recording function? And if so, would this kind of camera be affected by  
> the
> mesh?
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Mondragon, Todd [mailto:todd.mondragon () fmr com]
> Sent: Tuesday, March 13, 2007 2:00 AM
> To: Murda Mcloud; Pranav Lal; security-basics () securityfocus com
> Subject: RE: Seeking a solution for detecting hidden cameras
>
> No need to jam, a wire mesh placed in the walls and grounded will stop
> most RF devices cold.
> The mesh should be of the same type as screen door mesh (must be wire
> though!) to be able to stop any 2ghz signals. The mesh would also need
> to be electrically contiguous of course.
>
> Might make it hard to drill as well, the mesh would foul any powered
> bits and a hand tool would have great difficulty dealing with it as
> well.
>
> Todd Mondragon
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: listbounce () securityfocus com [mailto:listbounce () securityfocus com]
> On Behalf Of Murda Mcloud
> Sent: Sunday, March 11, 2007 7:53 PM
> To: 'Pranav Lal'; security-basics () securityfocus com
> Subject: RE: Seeking a solution for detecting hidden cameras
>
>
> One thing to do would be to build the room as clean and free from places
> that cameras could be hidden etc. ie no benches etc. Make it so that any
> tampering would be obvious.
> Also, make the walls etc out of something that would be hard to drill a
> pinhole in.
>
> Then some of those detectors that you listed could be used-though I
> can't
> vouch for any of them.
> Maybe there's a way of jamming signals too?
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: listbounce () securityfocus com [mailto:listbounce () securityfocus com]
> On
> Behalf Of Pranav Lal
> Sent: Friday, March 09, 2007 6:08 PM
> To: security-basics () securityfocus com
> Subject: Seeking a solution for detecting hidden cameras
>
> Hi all,
>
> I have been asked by a client to find a solution for detecting cameras
> in dressing rooms etc. The client has trial rooms where customers can
> try various garments. The concern is that  some one could plant a
> camera in one of these rooms and photograph customers.
>
> I have checked online and have found the following sources;
> http://www.brickhousesecurity.com/sf-103.html
> http://www.spytechs.com/bug_sweep_equip/vcd_43.htm
> http://www.pimall.com/nais/countervideo.html
> http://www.intpro.co.uk/pinhole.htm
> http://www.intpro.co.uk/camera%20detector.htm
> Are there any others? Has any one on this list tried any such
> solutions? I have found an interesting reference on hiding and
> detecting cameras at
> http://www.tentacle.franken.de/papers/hiddencams.pdf
>
> Pranav



-- 
Yan Zhai
Ph.D.
Cyber Defense Lab
NCSU