How to Check Your Phones for Wiretaps
Modern technology has increased the ease of phone wiretapping. If you work in business or government or if you're involved with a legal case, your home phones may be at risk. Fortunately, there are a few things you can check to see if your phone lines have been invaded.
Instructions
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1
Listen for any unusual noises while you're on the phone. Humming, clicks, pops and excessive static may be indications that your phone has been tapped. These noises may occur while the phone is in use or while it is idle. Newer wiretapping devices might not produce any unusual noises, however.
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2
Note any interference occurring with your radio or television reception, particularly while you're using the phone. Walk around the room while talking on the phone to see if your phone's location has any effect on the interference. Wiretapping devices will not interfere with cable or satellite TV signals. Instead, try walking around the room with a portable-antenna television.
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3
Inspect the inside of your telephone to check for any out-of-place devices. Inside the handset you should see little more than a red wire and a green one connected to a microphone. If you notice anything else, especially a device intersecting these wires and glued to the inside of the phone, you have been wiretapped.
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4
Look around outside your home to check for unusual activity. Look for any suspicious vehicles nearby and watch what they're doing. Has a car, truck or van been idling down the block for an extended period of time? Is there a utility truck parked near a telephone pole but no workers getting in or out of the truck?
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Inspect your home to see if anything is out of place. Look for signs that an individual entered your home without stealing anything. Check the phone jacks mounted in your walls for damage or signs of tampering.
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Tips & Warnings
If you have a strong feeling that your phones have been tapped but can't detect any evidence yourself, contact your local law enforcement agency. Most modern wiretapping equipment is designed to be very hard to spot and won't be detected by most people.
Don't waste your money on an "anti-wiretapping" or "wiretap detection" device. These items are highly overpriced and are easily bypassed by modern wiretapping devices.
