Apr 2019
Corporate Eavesdropping Risks
The Illegality of Most Eavesdropping and Its Risks
Like everything else that’s illegal, eavesdropping without consent always comes with its risks. It is a form of trespassing. It is illegal in most cases except in cases of suspected terrorism or crime when the police, FBI, or even the CIA has legal permission to get involved. Another exception is the Electronic Communication Privacy Act (ECPA) of 1986, which gives employers legal permission to listen in on calls to determine whether they’re job-related. Though, today, like many recordings warn, calls are often monitored electronically for those purposes. This does not apply to employees.
The purpose of a private conversation is for the persons to go somewhere in which they have a reason to believe that they won’t be intruded on. It does not count in public speaking or public events because in that case, those events are put on display with the intention of being seen and heard.
Unfortunately, everyone is vulnerable to illegal eavesdropping attacks. Those who are especially vulnerable are government agencies, corporations, celebrities and others who are famous, such as politicians and athletes. Even the personal homes of the latter three have been targeted from time to time. Corporate eavesdropping risks are especially high due to a high amount of hackers infiltrating the systems to steal data and other private information. Corporate eavesdropping risks are especially high if they tend to have weak passwords and very little to no proper technological security.
Eavesdropping Technology
The most common device used in illegal eavesdropping is a tiny “bug” that is a combination of a microphone and a radio transmitter. However, today, it’s controlled by mor
e advanced eavesdropping technology, such as cellular phones. Some microphones today also function by laser beams shot into or from a small object in the room such as a houseplant or a purse.
The risks are huge not only because of intrusion to privacy but also because businesses and corporations also end up losing billions every year over it. Bugs are not the only eavesdropping devices in existence now. There’s also computer hacking, secret trading and selling of insider information. Remember, the very latter was what got Martha Stewart in legal trouble in the ImClone Trading case in 2001. Insider trading is perhaps one of the most common eavesdropping risk. What a stock is going to do is not legally allowed to be known ahead to anyone outside of the trade. However, some people, unfortunately, get greedy and want to take action accordingly.
How to Prevent Eavesdropping Attacks
Fortunately, no one is completely helpless against illegal eavesdropping. Companies and individuals can always work with licensed bug sweeping services to inspect and remove implanted devices. They can also help to identify any other possible threats to learn further how to prevent eavesdropping attack. These same services are also legally required to document inspections and recommend required action. For bug sweeping and professional TSCM services in New York City, contact Silent Guardian Security.