Detection Section (TSCM)
Detecting Bugs in Corporate Offices
A Very Real Threat to Businesses
Corporate espionage is not just a movie fantasy. Unfair competition, conflicts between partners, hostile takeovers, contentious departures of senior executives, and tense labor negotiations: these are all situations where the temptation to obtain confidential information becomes very real. The devices used today are tiny and inexpensive. A GSM microphone hidden in a power strip, a pinhole camera concealed in a smoke detector, or a USB charger is enough to record hours of strategic conversations and transmit them remotely.
For a company, what’s at stake isn’t the value of the equipment but that of the information. A business strategy, a pricing structure, the content of a board meeting, or the terms of an acquisition can, once disclosed, shift the balance of power or even jeopardize an entire transaction.
Executives, legal departments, and chief information security officers (CISOs) are the first to recognize this risk—often when a weak signal appears: information that “leaks” without explanation, a competitor who is strangely well-informed, unusual behavior, or a misplaced item. When doubt sets in, it is better to resolve it through a professional investigation than to let it cast a shadow over internal communications.
A common example: A company notices that its bids are consistently outbid by a competitor, with no rational explanation. The possibility of information being intercepted in a meeting room or executive office should then be ruled out—or confirmed. Rather than wrongly suspecting an employee, a technical investigation allows for an objective determination without damaging the company’s work environment.
What the TSCM Service Includes for Offices and Business Premises
Our detection service—known by the acronym TSCM, which stands for Technical Surveillance Counter-Measures—covers all sensitive professional spaces: executive offices, boardrooms, strategic open-plan offices, server rooms, as well as high-traffic areas where conversations may be overheard.
We are looking for all types of devices: GSM and Wi-Fi microphones, hidden wired microphones, pinhole cameras, and IP cameras, as well as any trackers that may be present on the company’s mobile devices.
To do this, our teams use professional-grade equipment equivalent to that used by government agencies: spectrum analyzers to detect suspicious radio emissions, nonlinear junction detectors (NLJD) capable of identifying electronic components even when they are turned off or in standby mode, thermal imaging to locate abnormal heat sources, camera detectors, and analysis of surrounding Wi-Fi and GSM networks.
This service is intended for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and mid-sized companies as well as large corporations, at the request of executives, security departments, or legal counsel, as well as for law firms seeking to protect sensitive case files.
At the conclusion of the inspection, you will receive a report detailing our findings. Whether or not a device is discovered, this document serves as proof of the work performed and, if necessary, provides a basis for further action. Beyond the technical aspects, we place great importance on confidentiality: no information gathered during an assignment is shared outside the framework of our relationship with our client.
Step-by-Step Guide to a Typical Intervention
It all begins with a confidential discussion designed to assess your situation and define the scope of the inspection. We then agree on a time slot that minimizes disruption to your business—often outside of business hours or on a weekend—so we can carry out the work without drawing attention. On site, our Detection Division Director, Igor Defosse, or a technician from his team, conducts a methodical inspection: a physical search for vulnerable points, a radio spectrum scan, an NLJD sweep of furniture, partitions, and equipment, thermal imaging, and an analysis of connected devices. Each room is assessed according to a precise protocol. Upon completion, we provide you with a report detailing our findings and recommendations for sustainably reducing your exposure.
Why Choose the Aquila Group
The Aquila Group is a private detective agency accredited by the CNAPS. Technical investigation is one of our specialties, conducted using specialized equipment and a proven methodology—not merely as a secondary service. You can find our full range of expertise in technical investigation on our website.
Beyond this area of expertise, the Aquila Group is a well-structured firm, organized into several areas of expertise and with a network of offices throughout France. This structure allows us to respond quickly anywhere in the country, while maintaining the same high standards of methodology from one assignment to the next. Our agents work with professional equipment that is regularly updated, as surveillance techniques evolve rapidly and effective detection requires staying one step ahead.
We operate throughout France, with particularly high demand in the Paris region, where many corporate headquarters are located. Discretion, impartiality, and absolute confidentiality regarding our findings form the foundation of our commitment to each client. To schedule an inspection of your premises, please contact our teams.
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Offices and Business Premises, Frequently Asked Questions
Allow anywhere from a few hours for a single office to a full day for an executive floor or a large office space. We’ll provide you with an estimate after the initial consultation.
Yes. We adjust the schedule and procedures so that the inspection goes unnoticed. Many inspections are conducted when staff are not present.
Microphones, hidden cameras, and transmitters—whether wired or wireless, transmitting continuously, intermittently, or temporarily turned off—our equipment covers all of these scenarios.
We document the discovery in detail and advise you on the next steps. Depending on the circumstances, the report may serve as the basis for legal action, which we will help you prepare.
Yes. Searching for devices on premises that your company has the right to use is perfectly legal. The possession of detection equipment is governed by Article R226-7 of the Penal Code, in accordance with <a href=”https://www.cnaps.interieur.gouv.fr/”>the Internal Security Code</a>.
Check out all our sections on investigations for detecting hidden microphones and cameras
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