Blacksweep

Electronic sweep frequently asked questions

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Direct answers about electronic sweeps and counter-surveillance, with sources for figures, laws and technical claims. If your question is about a specific case, contact us through a private channel and avoid discussing it at the suspected location.

What an electronic sweep is

What is an electronic sweep (TSCM)?

It is a technical inspection of a space, vehicle or device to find out whether clandestine surveillance is present. TSCM stands for Technical Surveillance Countermeasures: techniques to detect and neutralize surveillance technologies that allow unauthorized access to information[1]. In practice it combines electronic instruments and physical inspection.

What does a sweep look for?

Bugs, microphones, recorders, radio-frequency transmitters, hidden cameras and trackers in spaces and vehicles. On phones, tablets and laptops, the search is for spyware and stalkerware, using a different kind of analysis. The scope should be in writing before work starts.

How does a professional sweep work?

It combines radio-frequency spectrum analysis, a non-linear junction detector for powered-off electronics, a thermal camera, line checks and physical inspection of furniture, outlets and ceilings. No single technique covers everything. See the step-by-step.

Does a sweep guarantee there are no bugs?

No. It reflects conditions at the time of the exam and within the contracted scope. A device can be installed later, and inaccessible areas stay out. That is why the report should list what was examined, the procedures used, the findings and the restrictions, rather than declaring the place "clean" forever.

Price and how to hire

How much does an electronic sweep cost in Brazil?

It depends on the area, techniques and deliverable. In the public contracts we analyzed, the service cost R$ 4,000, R$ 43,650 and R$ 131,000, with very different scopes[2]. A January 2024 Folhapress report cites about R$ 2,000 per service[3]. BlackSweep quotes on request. See the full study.

Why is sweep equipment so expensive?

Because these are specialized, low-volume instruments. In Brazilian public purchases, a full kit cost R$ 495,000 to R$ 620,000, a non-linear junction detector had a R$ 320,000 median and a spectrum analyzer R$ 430,200[2]. Most purchases were made without competitive bidding.

What should I require before hiring a sweep?

A written scope with included and excluded areas, the techniques and equipment on site, who does the work, a confidentiality agreement and a sample report with clear limits. Be wary of promises of absolute results. See the hiring guide.

How often should I have a sweep?

There is no official schedule. Do one after risk events: renovations, staff changes, outside contractors, separation, shareholder disputes or before a decisive meeting. People with high exposure tend to schedule repeats. See how to set the frequency.

Does BlackSweep serve private individuals and homes?

Yes, that is the focus. We serve high-end apartments, penthouses, mansions, country houses, yachts, jets and vehicles, as well as offices, by private appointment, in Brazil and abroad.

Homes, hotels and hidden cameras

How can I tell if there is a bug or hidden camera at home?

On your own you can only get an indication. Look for lenses with a flashlight in the dark, and for new objects facing the bed, sofa or table. A study with 379 volunteers found the naked eye caught 46% of cameras, with 54.9% false positives[4][5]. RF detectors only work if the device is transmitting, and SD-card cameras are harder to find[6]. Confirmation requires a technical inspection.

When does it make sense to sweep a home?

After renovation or moving, after contractors have been inside, in short-term rentals, during separation or family disputes, and when private matters leak without explanation. See the silent signs your home may be watched.

Are indoor cameras allowed in Airbnb homes?

No. Airbnb has banned indoor cameras worldwide since April 30, 2024, "regardless of their location, purpose or prior disclosure", and outdoor cameras must be disclosed[7]. In hotel rooms, the US counterintelligence center advises no expectation of privacy[8]. See how to protect yourself when traveling.

What should I do if I find a device?

Do not touch it or mention the finding on site, since it may be capturing. Photograph it, note where it is and leave the room to speak to a lawyer or the police. Handling the device can compromise evidence. If there is personal risk, put your safety first. See what to do and not do.

Phones, spyware and stalkerware

How can I tell if my phone is tapped or has spyware?

Symptoms cannot confirm it. The FTC lists signs such as a battery draining fast and someone knowing your location without being told[9]. Confirmation comes from forensic analysis, such as with the Mobile Verification Toolkit, which looks for traces of compromise on Android and iOS with the owner consent[10].

What is Pegasus and how is it detected?

It is mercenary spyware from NSO Group. In 2021 Amnesty International documented its forensic traces on iOS and Android and "zero-click" attacks that need no victim interaction, and released an open verification tool[11].

I received an Apple alert about mercenary spyware. Is it real?

It may be. Apple sends these notices when it has high confidence of an individual attack. It says the notifications never ask you to click links or install anything, and that you can confirm by signing in at account.apple.com[12]. Apple also offers Lockdown Mode, an extreme, optional protection for very few people[13].

What is stalkerware and what should I do if I suspect it?

It is software that runs hidden on a device and monitors a person without consent[14]. The FTC advises seeking support before removing it, since the installer may notice, and not reinstalling apps from backups[9]. Installing this kind of program on someone else device may be a crime in Brazil[15].

Vehicles and trackers

How can I find out if there is a tracker on my car?

iPhone and Android warn about compatible Bluetooth trackers moving with you: the feature arrived in iOS 17.5 and Android 6.0 or later[16], and Android has the "Find unknown trackers" check[17]. These alerts do not cover cellular trackers wired to the vehicle battery, which require physical and electronic inspection. See how they are installed and found.

I got an AirTag alert. What should I do?

Use the Play Sound option to locate the item. If you feel at risk, Apple advises going to a safe public place and contacting the police[18]. Do not take the tracker home before assessing the risk.

Detectors and equipment

Do bug detectors bought online work?

Only partly. In the LAPD study, a commercial K18 detector found 62.3% of cameras with steady light and 57.7% with blinking light, with 26.9% and 35.2% false positives[4]. In Canaltech reporting, experts say US$ 30 devices are probably not good and that RF detectors miss what is not transmitting[6]. See why the gadget fails.

What is a non-linear junction detector (NLJD)?

It is an instrument that emits radio frequency and picks up the response of semiconductor components, so it locates electronics even when powered off, without a battery or built into walls and furniture. The ORION, a well-known model, operates around 2.4 GHz[19]. It needs a trained operator, because other materials can respond too. In public purchases the median was R$ 320,000[2].

What equipment does BlackSweep use?

Spectrum analyzers such as the Rohde & Schwarz FSH8 (up to 8 GHz)[20], Aaronia SPECTRAN V6 (up to 6 or 8 GHz, depending on the model) and the IsoLOG 3D antenna to locate transmitters[21], plus REI ORION for powered-off electronics[19], REI OSCOR, REI TALAN for lines and the FLIR E8 Pro thermal camera (320×240)[22].

Want to understand pricing? Read our study of public contracts.

Need a sweep?

First contact is private and does not require details of the case.

Request a private sweep

Sources

  1. Technical surveillance countermeasures (TSCM) — Glossary — NIST Computer Security Resource Center.
  2. Quanto custa a varredura eletrônica no Brasil: o que mostram os contratos públicos — BlackSweep, Nov 5, 2026.
  3. Saiba como localizar câmeras escondidas em hospedagens e quartos de hotel (Folhapress) — TNH1, Jan 24, 2024.
  4. Smartphones now have lasers so we’re gonna use them to find voyeurs (estudo LAPD, ACM SenSys 2021) — The Register, Nov 18, 2021.
  5. Finding hidden cameras with your smartphone’s ToF sensor — Kaspersky, Jan 17, 2022.
  6. Como encontrar câmeras escondidas em hotéis e imóveis alugados? — Canaltech, Nov 4, 2022.
  7. Airbnb bans all indoor security cameras — MPR News / NPR, Mar 11, 2024.
  8. Travel Tips (página arquivada) — National Counterintelligence and Security Center (EUA).
  9. Stalkerware: What To Know — Federal Trade Commission (EUA), Jun 2026.
  10. Mobile Verification Toolkit — Documentation — Amnesty International Security Lab.
  11. Forensic Methodology Report: How to catch NSO Group’s Pegasus — Amnesty International, Jul 18, 2021.
  12. About Apple threat notifications and protecting against mercenary spyware — Apple, Aug 13, 2026.
  13. About Lockdown Mode — Apple, Sep 14, 2026.
  14. What is stalkerware? — Coalition Against Stalkerware.
  15. Código Penal, arts. 147-A, 153, 154, 154-A e 216-B — Presidência da República.
  16. Apple and Google deliver support for unwanted tracking alerts in iOS and Android — Apple Newsroom, May 13, 2024.
  17. Find unknown trackers — Android Help — Google.
  18. What to do if you get an alert that an AirTag or tracking device is with you — Apple, Sep 24, 2026.
  19. Orion 2.4 — non-linear junction detector — Crypto Museum.
  20. R&S FSH handheld spectrum analyzer — Rohde & Schwarz.
  21. Aaronia Product Landscape Reference (Nuts and Bolts of Real-Time Spectrum Analysis) — Berkeley Nucleonics.
  22. FLIR E8 Pro — thermal imaging camera — Teledyne FLIR.
  23. Lei nº 9.296/1996, arts. 1º, 10 e 10-A (interceptação e captação ambiental) — Presidência da República.
  24. Constituição Federal de 1988, art. 5º, X e XII — Presidência da República.
  25. Lei nº 9.279/1996, art. 195, XI e XII (concorrência desleal) — Presidência da República.
  26. Lei nº 13.709/2018 (LGPD), arts. 7º e 46 — Presidência da República.

Sources checked on .