Bug Book: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Electronic Eavesdropping ... But Were Afraid to Ask (Paperback)

~ (Author), M. L. SHANNON (Author) "So, theoretically, you could have a multistage, high-power, crystal-controlled FM transmitter that operates in the high-VHF area of the spectrum, or a single-stage variable frequency,..." (more)
Key Phrases: surveillance transmitters, countermeasures receivers, field strength meter, Pac Bell, Radio Max, The Biz (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

What would you do if you thought you were being bugged? How would you defend yourself? How would you even know about it? If you've pondered these questions, and especially if you haven't, you need to read this book. It was written to tell you, the average Joe, everything there is to know about tiny hidden transmitters that can broadcast your personal and business conversations to spies, government agents . . . even the next-door neighbors. Find out how these devices work, how effective they are, how to find them and deal with them and how to use this technology in your own self-defense if necessary. Includes scores of ideas and resources for protecting the privacy of landline, cellular and cordless telephones, as well as pagers, fax machines and computers, plus phone phreaking terms and tricks and, as one reviewer put it, true tales of the Biz that "will spook you . . . and a few that will make you laugh."

About the Author

M.L. Shannon's lifelong interest in communications led him to work as a technician for a company that made surveillance and countermeasures gear as well as for a professional countermeasures company. He is well versed on privacy issues.

Product Details

• Paperback: 168 pages
• Publisher: Paladin Press (March 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1581600658
• ISBN-13: 978-1581600650
• Product Dimensions: 10.6 x 8.8 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #323,105 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars saved me thousands, January 31, 2001

By A Customer

I was going through a messing child custody battle and was worried about my phone lines. Turns out they were bugged. This book showed me how to locate and do away with the buggs. It also showed me how to do a little survallance of my own.

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Book is Just Overpriced Drivel, and of No Value, June 1, 2007

By	James M. Atkinson "Spy Hunter, Electronics En... (Gloucester, MA USA) - See all my reviews

Much like much of other M.L. Shannon's works the material is not unique nor original, and is just overpriced drivel and of little to no value.

While reading the book I kept waiting for the author to make a clear point, but all I saw was the author grinding away at how evil the government was, how evil the companies that make the bugs, how stupid the public is, and how clever and enlightened the writer was trying to be.

I felt that most of the materials were not at all original, and that a great deal of it was regurgitated sales brochures and white papers that the author had pulled together, but which could be obtained for free from dozens of other online sources. In fact it appeared that to write this book the author had merely culled together a bunch of online materials mailing lists and website, added a few paragraphs of his own here and there to tie it all together, and then slapped a high price on it to create the illusion the buyer was getting something of value.

There is copius technical errors in the book, significant misrepresentations, quite a but of yellow or at least jaundiced journalism, too much sensationalism, and not enough well researched facts, or experiments.

The author appears to lack a strong technical background, and appears to possess nothing more then a general understanding of surveillance, with no technical depth or expertise.

Most of the material in this book appears to just be a rehashing of other materials he has in his other books, and his other books appear to just be a re-hash of this book, so it boils down to an issue of which came first the chicken or the egg. It seemed like the author had harvested materials from 3 or 4 web sites, and then used this harvested material to cough up a have dozen books, even though each book over lapped the other books by a good 85%.

This book also draws a great deal on other books written and published in the popular counter culture mindset, and one could almost say that the book seems to be aimed at explaining to drug users in San Francisco how to find law enforcement bugs that may or may not be on the line, and that the book inflames paranoia without providing workable solutions. The level of technical knowledge in the book is on par to that which you would see written by a bunch of high school sophomores, or a bunch of wanna-be script kiddies.

There are numerous serious technical errors in the book, and the reader risks damage to their equipment, and possible personal injury if they follow the instructions in the book.

This book is a waste of money, you can find the same stuff for free elsewhere on the Internet just by googling on TSCM.

In my opinion, if you buy this book, you will probably want to ask for a refund after you finish reading it, the book is just that bad. Do yourself a favor and start with books NOT written by this author, and come back to this author after you have read other peoples writings on the subject matter and can appreciate the drivel in this book as a work of fantasy. Also, rather then purchase this book you should borrow it from a library first, or browse through it at a bookstore to decide for yourself if you really should waste you money on it.

Most legitimate books store don't carry it on their shelf, but you should be able to find it at your local head shop, survivalist supply store, and other "fantasy world" kinds of books.

Don't waste your time, or money on this book.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A good start, September 22, 2005

By	Allezsandro "Allezsandro" - See all my reviews

It covers the basic with balance and (like the Phone Book) appropriate language level. It is truly enough to get one started in the topic.