Are you living next door to a spy? Recently a number of
Americans didn't realize that they were, as the FBI
uncovered 10 Russian spies operating in the United States,
all carrying on seemingly harmless jobs and leading ordinary
personal lives.[1] So it is possible that there are spies in
your midst, blending in and going about their daily
business just the same as you, only covertly, and probably
with a lot more riding on the outcome than most of our daily
toiling. It is equally possible, of course, that our wild
imaginings are creating spies out of people and situations
that are perfectly innocent or un-spy related. Methods for
spotting a spy aren't scientific or foolproof, and possible
signs of spying are not a reason for instilling relentless
paranoia or reacting without cause. All the same, it could
be helpful, and perhaps even fun, to have a basic primer in
spotting a spy in your walks of life.
!! Steps !!
Know your spies. Some of the spies you might encounter include:
* Government spies – whether from your own country or another
country, spies are on the lookout to uncover illegitimate
business, wrongdoing, and even other spies. There can also be
spies for non-government groups such as terrorists, guerrilla
fighters, liberation fronts, etc.; while they're not government
spies, they're usually moving in the same circles and are targeted
by government spies.
* Industrial spies – these spies can range from spies involved in
industrial espionage by stealing secrets, plans, or other
workplace confidential information (illegal); corporate security
surveiling employees and others for theft, moles, any "suspicious"
behavior, or even "slacking off" (a gray area legally, as laws
struggle to keep up with technology); to people who simply keep an
eye on what their competitors are up to in a number of legal ways.
Corporate espionage spies might take physical information or they
might hack electronic data. The more legitimate side of industrial
spying involves gathering competitive intelligence: for example,
store or competitor checkers (including secret/mystery shoppers)
might visit their competition to check out the layout, prices,
styles, even the caliber of staff, etc., that their competitor
has; in this last case, the spied-on store is very likely doing it
back to its competition!
* Cyber spies – they could be government-based, industry-based,
vigilante-driven, individually sponsored, or part of a crime
network.[2] Cyber-spying can be located anywhere in the world,
undertaken by anyone with the will and resources, and is usually
aimed at obtaining proprietary information to sell to the highest
bidder,[3] or it could be spying for the purposes of
blackmailing, trying to see if someone is cheating (usually a
spouse/partner), or for cyber-stalking a person.
* Detectives, police, or covert surveillance specialists – not so
much spies as people whose operative work requires good hiding and
detecting skills to unearth information for clients. Some of their
work definitely includes spying and could be some of the more
likely spying you might spot, such as seeing unmarked vans with
camera equipment.
* Journalists and activists – not actual spies but some
investigative journalists and activists come close to spying (or
actually are spying, depending on the perspective!) when working
undercover to expose information that hasn't been made public.
Know your spy equipment. Knowing how to spot spy equipment goes hand
in hand with knowing how to spot a spy! The trouble with using spy
equipment to gauge whether or not someone is a spy, though, is that
modern surveillance technology exists at affordable prices for any
person keen to try it out. No longer merely the exclusive province
of well-heeled spies, a booty of spy-related technology and gear
sitting in your friend's bag or house might just be a sign they're a
"wannabe spy" or they're massively paranoid! All the same, a little
knowledge of what constitutes spy equipment might help you in your
attempt to spot a spy, so some things to look for (if you even have
a clue where to look!) might include:
* Night vision goggles, unfamiliar or unusual technology, or
technology that has been "transformed" in a custom-made way,
hidden cameras in their home or place of work, listening devices
(bugs), weapons, tripwires, drugging substances, long range
lenses, top quality compact cameras, etc.
A little too obvious... In terms of vehicles, the vehicle will
usually be plain rather than obvious. Any vehicle kitted out with
strange antennae and obvious equipment probably belongs to a
hotted-up car, CB radio, or stereo enthusiast![4]
* Read some books or websites that explain the intricacies of spy
equipment to get yourself up to speed.
Think about how a spy might appear. Of course, it's highly unlikely
that a spy will go around dressed like a ninja ready for a fight;
most spies will try to blend in with their environment, meaning that
looking like the person sitting next to you or sharing your lunch
table would make an ideal cover. Clothing chosen usually represents
the basics of the "workplace" assignment - work clothing, street
clothing, professional suits, etc., although such clothing might
require certain modifications to allow for hiding equipment/weapons,
or for bodily protection. Naturally, cyber-spies don't usually get
to be seen, so they're not counted for this step! Some things to
consider include:
* Look for optimal fitness and usually an age under 45–50.
Government spies who are required to be in active service will
usually be age-limited, it being less likely that they'll be
spying once their physical ability declines. However, age isn't
necessarily a telling factor.
* Does the person have any physical evidence of having been involved
in fighting? If there are no other reasons for scarring or wounds,
such as sport or a car accident, it might be that this person has
been involved in covert operations that got nasty.[5]
* Does the person seem to have flashier clothing and more expensive
accessories than you might expect of someone in the job they say
they have? This could be a sign of several things, from inheriting
money, buying little but high quality, embezzling, or winning the
lottery, but it might also be because they're a spy!
* Is there anything out of character in the appearance or
affectations of the person before you? You'll have to go with your
own hunches here but it might help to read wikiHow's article on
how to detect lies.
Ordinary shopper or super smart spy? Consider the educational and
professional background of the person you suspect might be a spy.
Many spies are well educated, physically strong, and for some roles,
they will be highly intelligent.[6] Many have military or police
backgrounds, including for corporate security and espionage.[7]
Others might be well-versed in foreign affairs, law/law enforcement,
or political theory, and may have worked in these fields prior to
becoming a spy. They may have risen up the ranks in certain
bureaucracies or they may have been hand picked from an early age.
Lesser level spies might be recruited from people who have a
low-value degree, poor money management skills, and have intermittent
employment histories.[8]
* Spies required to undertake surveillance work using high-tech
equipment will need a high level of ability using such equipment,
requiring good intelligence and analytical skills.
Look for signs. If you suspect that someone you know might be a spy,
check for possible "spy signs". The signs are not foolproof by any
means - there are plenty of people who see themselves as loners but
don't end up as spies, for instance! And always be careful - nosing
around in someone's life is undesirable at the best of times and if
a person realizes you think they're a spy, you might have some very
embarrassing explaining to do. Here are some possible signs, all
with the proviso that these signs could mean many things:
* Is the person suddenly difficult to get along with? Are there
sudden debts, or embarrassing acts that cause the family to reject
or ostracize this person? It is possible that the person has been
asked to remove themselves from the family sphere to undertake
deeper spy work.[9]
* Is the person not responding to communications from family members
even though it is known that he or she is still alive? Some spies
simply break off contact, move elsewhere, even overseas, and stop
answering calls, emails, and letters.[10]
* Is your relative or friend always going on about "time spent
overseas" but never actually says what he or she did there? This
could be an indicator that he or she was once a spy.
* Does your suspect love being alone? Spies are often viewed as
loners, people content with their own company and are not averse
to cutting ties with family, friends, or other relationships.[11]
* Listen for their language. If a person is claiming to be a native
speaker, there may be occasional language oddities or incongruous
phrasing that can alert you to this person not being a native
speaker but trying to hide this fact.
* Does the suspected spy ask a lot of questions all the time that
seem to be about a particular person, place, or event? This might
be a sign of something being up if the line of questioning is
persistent and repeated.
* Do your personal or workplace things appear to have been tampered
with after a visit by this person? If you notice strange things
misplaced, that could be a sign that a recent visitor might have
been snooping.
I don't remember her as staff?! Consider how an industrial or cyber
spy might behave. If you run a business with highly sought-after or
confidential information, knowing that there is an industrial or
cyber spy in your midst can come in handy but it isn't going to be
easy! An industrial spy might simply walk into your building
unsuspected; perhaps dressed as a fellow worker, a computer repairer,
or as a cleaner. Or they might simply pose as a friend of someone in
the organization. Spotting people intent on spying can be difficult
if your company doesn't have means for checking on who is entering
and leaving a building. And there is always the possibility that you
might have employed a spy without knowing it, or that a cyber spy is
poking through your computer records unbeknown. Some methods for
spotting spies include:
* Check the credentials of people entering your workplace. Ask for
ID and ask for the names of people who can verify who the newcomer
is. You can even request a phone number of their employer and ask
if it is possible to check the credentials on the firm's
website.[12] If the person claims to be a family member, have the
requisite staff member verify this before allowing them free range
in your building.
* Watch for persons tailgating your employees. Employees huddling
round doorways smoking, or employees returning from lunch, can
serve as great tailgating cover. A casual cup of coffee in one
hand and a smile on the face, could conceal a spy entering your
building. Try to build a work environment where people are
prepared to question the entry of those they do not know, not just
leaving this up to the receptionist and security guards.[13]
* Inspect computers regularly for spy actions. Things to be on the
lookout for include data theft, keystroke logging, phishing,
unusual downloads of information by employees, etc.[14] Use virus
scanning tools to find vulnerabilities in applications that you
use and keep all firewalls and virus software updated. If you do
find evidence of spying in your computer network, report it to the
police immediately and seek the help of computer security
specialists.
As stealthy as an animal... Be alert for anyone spying on you. There
are several things that you can do to keep your own awareness of
being spied upon at a high level. Some of the main things to watch
for include:
* Are you being followed? While a spy is trained to not set off your
sense of being followed, if you're alert enough, you should be
able to sense being followed. Use your peripheral vision, check
behind you occasionally (don't overdo this or it can make you seem
scared), and vary your usual routine. In varying your usual
routine, it should be easier to spot someone who might have
started following you, as they'll have had less time to scout out
hiding strategies and you'll also be more attuned to keeping an
eye out. Read wikiHow's article on protect yourself if someone's
following you home for more details.
* Is anyone you don't know or who is situated away from you taking
photographs of you? Not the usual tourist accidental inclusion
shot but targeted photographing of you? While this sort of
activity would usually be undertaken with subterfuge, given that
almost everyone has a camera or a camera phone these days, it can
be easy to blend into the crowd.
* Has someone tampered with your phone? Listen for odd clicks,
difficulty shutting down a cell phone, staying lit up or lighting
up without being touched, hearing sounds that are not familiar,
etc. [15] Both landline and mobile phones can be targeted for
bugging; even deleted SMS messages are retrievable with the right
equipment![16] If you suspect someone is tampering with your
mobile phone, return it to your retailer and ask for it to be
wiped back to its factory settings, as this will remove any
software placed on it.
* Check obvious signs. There are some things that you'll know
already from the movies, like the same car parked near your home
with people just sitting in it, or somebody (not a kid!) observing
your house with binoculars or a telephoto lens. While it is
possible people in these situations might be spying on you, it is
also possible that they're doing 101 innocent things like checking
a map because they're lost, sulking after an argument with
someone, testing out their new gear, etc. Look for repeated and
suspicious activity, not one-offs.
* Check your computer. There are many possible ways a person can spy
on you using your computer and webcam. There are many things you
can do, including checking for suspicious IP addresses, checking
for malware, etc. This is a subject in its own right, but you can
get started by reading How to know if you have spyware on your
computer and How to clean basic malware infections on Windows XP.
Know the limitations of spy-spotting. Almost everything suggested in
this article can also have perfectly innocent, non-spy reasons
behind it. When trying to spot a spy, the idea is to "build a
picture" from each of the steps rather than using any single step or
sign on its own to reach an assumption. The more checks you can
find, the better chances you might have of spotting a spy but even
then, you could be spotting something else completely, from a kid
playing at spies, to a criminal committing illegal acts of the
non-spying kind. Keep in mind:
* Use common sense, basic logic, good faith, and experience checks
before jumping to conclusions.
* Becoming paranoid or terrified that somebody is "out to get you"
is an unhealthy state of being and one that is fed by the fear
culture that benefits control freaks, spy movie makers, and spy
equipment retailers.
* If you really do have suspicions that somebody might be spying on
you, it's probably a good idea to ask someone you trust what they
think of your suspicions. If you can't do that, think about who
else you might be able to contact, from your IT department for
computer spy worries, to the police if you think you're being
stalked.
* Spy-spotting will remain in the realm of speculation for the
average person. On occasion, the really important side of spotting
a spy is usually in the workplace or on your computer, as doing so
could prove very important for your firm or self if your computer
or mobile phone safety has been compromised.
!! Video !!
!! Tips !!
* If you run a security conscious business, be sure that even the
delivery dock employees are aware to keep an eye on who is
entering the building. In general, encourage employees to question
unusual behavior – it is an easy assumption to think that people
already inside your building are meant to be there but they may
not be. If there are to be computer repairs or updates to be made,
for example, make it a company policy that such repairs will
always be announced widely before they occur, or if they only
concern one individual, that only approved repairers can be used
and must show ID to both the employee and the employee's
supervisor _before_ commencing repair work. Make sure that all
computers are password accessible only (and make sure that the
passwords are strong) and that data held online is both password
protected according to employee level and is encrypted.[17] If a
person sitting at a desk is trying to access through these levels
of security, it will soon become evident that they're not getting
anywhere!
* Turn your mobile phone off when you are moving about. In the UK, a
service is already available that allows a person to follow you
based on your mobile phone number (World Tracker) and enforcement
or safety authorities can locate you if your mobile phone is on in
many parts of the world. [18]You'll need to balance your paranoia
with the inconvenience of people not being able to reach you
though!
* Read books and articles on becoming a spy – there will be some
tips in these books that you might be able to apply to your own
spy spotting.
* Not owning much and not having pets, pot plants, or anything else
that needs regular attending could be a sign of a spy who needs to
dash away at a moment's notice. Of course, these could also be
signs of someone allergic to pets, a bachelor pad, or someone who
can't be bothered with indoor gardening!
!! Warnings !!
* If someone is stalking you, sending you threats, or blackmailing
you, seek immediate help from enforcement authorities. The
aggressor's actions may have nothing to do with spying but your
safety comes first – don't waste time trying to piece together
the pieces!
* If you do discover someone has weapons on their body or in their
possession, be careful not to provoke them or to draw attention to
your "theories". If at all possible, pretend you have not noticed
and then seek help as soon as possible. If they notice you've
noticed, make a quick joke, like "Oh I see you're a security guard
or a cop" and try to change the conversation.
* Tell health insurers and government insurers the truth about
accident injuries and health complaints. It is not uncommon for
these entities to set investigators on people they suspect are
trying to cheat insurance or welfare systems by claiming injuries
and disabilities that they do not have. This is usually a criminal
offense and is not taken lightly.
* Some neighbors spy for a pastime. This doesn't make them a spy; it
makes them nosy, probably difficult to get along with, and quite
possibly very bored or mentally challenged. Unless it's a neighbor
newly moved in, you're probably fine to assume it's a neighborhood
relationships issue rather than one of a spy being in town. Then
again, you never know...
* Employers spy on employees in some situations, via computers,
other staff members, or even by random checks.[19] This is a fact
of life for some workers, and if you work in a security-conscious
industry, follow the instructions you're given or seek
clarification if you're not sure what is OK and what is not OK to
do at work. Whether or not your workplace is highly
security-conscious, the fact is that technology exists enabling
anyone to be able to read your emails, track your digital
pathways, follow your IM messages, note the times you swiped your
workplace ID in and out, see you on video in your comings and
goings, and listen in on your calls – _if_ they're so
inclined.[20] Given this reality, you could either get upset about
it, or choose to see this as a reality and order your working
affairs accordingly, to ensure that you don't fall foul of audits
or quick security sweeps. Ultimately, the choice rests with you to
be informed about how to deal with this, sensible about what you
should and should not do at work, and responsible about
interpreting the guidelines and morality code related to your
workplace. In addition, you can always consider taking the frank
approach and ask your supervisors if video cameras or computers
are being used to log and track your work activities.
* Hiring former military or police personnel for company security
can bring your company more security hassles than you bargain for
if they confuse intelligence gathering with espionage. Be certain
that your security employees know the difference and stay within
the law (and your employee's comfort zones) – a company being
hauled up for "spying" can take a very big hit to its
reputation.[21]
!! Things You'll Need !!
* Internet access or library to learn more about spying activities
and spy gear
* Security measures to protect your home, car, computer, etc., –
talk to your local police station or neighborhood watch program if
you're not sure how to secure your house and car against theft and
break-in, and an IT specialist for computer information.
* Self defense classes (optional)
!! Related WikiHows !!
* How to Protect Your Computer With a Firewall
* How to Be a Spy
* How to Remove Spyware
* How to Avoid Being Caught Spying
* How to Help Paranoid People
!! Sources And Citations !!
!! Article Tools !!
* Read on wikiHow
*
0 comments:
Post a Comment