How do you tell if your phone is tapped?

[BobMorr]

I have a constant high pitched faint beeping sound that I hear, during conversations and even with only a dial tone. This happens about every 8-10 seconds. Its very faint, but audible if you listen carefully. I have a dsl hookup, but don't think its the problem. Anyone else notice the same?

:tinfoilhat:

[Rush1184]

1. Get a phone company guy to check the line...

granted, if they find nothing then you are still in the dark as to if you are tapped, but if they find somthing, then you know you are. With out going into detail, is their any reasons your phone may be tapped? Pending federal investigation or somthing?

[meegbear]

2. Every time you answer the phone,instead of "hello" say

FUCK BUSH!

[Rush1184]

5. True, you could allways call up friends and talk about assinating bush...

If the FBI comes to your house, then chances are, you phone was tapped.

[ClintonTyree]

18. The NSA could pick that up without a tap.......

they're listening to EVERYTHING, watching EVERYTHING. Certain key words are used as criteria for listening in on conversations, all WITHOUT a wire tap. Big brother is always watching and listening, of that you can be certain.

[BobMorr]

11. I say things as if someones listening

I already say things, as if someone is listening. My brother and I talk alot during the day. Almost invariably anti-bush statements come up. It seems that there is always something new happening politically.

[pauliedangerously]

19. You're PARANOID

There are tens of millions of people in this country who are opposed to the BFEE and the FBI doesn't have the resources to listen to a small fraction of them. You and I are small pototoes, my friend, and no-one in Washington DC really cares what we think or say.

Relax. Enjoy life.

[ret5hd]

3. i think that if a tap is done properly...

you would never know.

i know that doesnt answer your question.

[Worst Username Ever]

4. That is not a tap.

You would not know if you have a tap. That beeping is something I have heard before too, it is just a switch on the line somewhere. You can contact the phone company if it bothers you...

[punpirate]

6. Since you do have DSL...

... it may be the filters on the phone line. If you haven't yet done so, try turning off the DSL modem and then check for any change in the line quality.

My guess is that if someone wanted to tap your phone, today's equipment would be virtually undetectable by ordinary means.

Cheers.

[datasuspect]

7. sometimes clicks

rapid clicks during pulse shift from dial tone to an active call (has to do with switching/trunks/electrical signals) if you are on a land line network.

cell phones, you can capture logs of transmissions and shit like that. a cell phone is basically an rf transmitter. a walkie talkie. those radio frequencies bounce around the air. it is not difficult to intercept those transmissions.

[LifeDuringWartime]

8. one of my cordless phones makes a strange sound

its like a constant clicking noise...somewhat rapid. its probably just interference from my computer, though.

its unlikely that youd ever know if your phone was tapped...they probably do it at the phone company now.

[Oreo]

9. Do you have DSL filters on your phones?

If not, you'll hear weird noises.

[aden_nak]

10. The only telltale audio clue concerning a phone tap is a clicking sound.

But that's not very common anymore, and is generally just a cliche in spy movies (the tech has long surpassed that tired plot device).

[Ian David]

12. Cheap "consumer" and improvised taps by nosy neighbors can make noises

[datasuspect]

15. lots of the telephone system

what they used to call POTS (plain old telephone service - telephone company lingo) to this day centers on switches, trunks, and outdated equipment that primarily is concerned with switching electrical signal.

most local telephone service (that isn't broadband, wireless, fiber optic, what have you) is not all that modern or sophisticated.

[aden_nak]

17. True that. But I thought the worry was being tapped by a Fed Agency.

In which case, you probably wouldn't know it. :P

[pauliedangerously]

13. You'l never know if your phone is being tapped.

The stuff you hear in the backround is called "noise." The phone company can check the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and if it's unacceptable, they will correct it. There is always noise in the backround, but with a high SNR it is not perceptible.

Unless you're dealing drugs or conspiring with revolutionaries--and I don't mean posting on DU--then you ought to be concerned. If you're just another American citizen who opposes the Bush administration, who has written a few op-eds to the newspaper, etc, then DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT; your phone isn't tapped.

[RBHam]

14. You'd never know nowadays.

They're that good.

[happynewyear]

16. I know of someone whose phone I suspect is tapped

It is very annoying. It sounds like you are talking into an echo chamber all of the time. We never discuss it, never.

:(

[radwriter0555]

20. I had this several years ago, in 2000 and 2001 when I honestly believe

I was being paid attention to by the FBI. So I just started making jokes about it, since my callers could hear it too.

There was also the occasional white van nearby for periods of time, but eventually, it all stopped. After all, I wasn't doing anything other than dissenting.

[datasuspect]

21. i hate to say it

but i had the "utility van" thing happen to me too. it was funny how obvious they were about it.

and no, i am not a paranoid schizophrenic.

[radwriter0555]

26. I'm not paranoid either. Just observant. I found it all pretty funny

since I knew I was doing nothing wrong...

[smurfygirl]

22. They do make recorders that beep about every 30 seconds

I am sure that the FBI or any goverment agency would not use these devices, but you never know. The purpose of the beep is to remind the caller that they are being recorded. In some states this is a requirement. Is this happening with any phone calls or just to a certain person? I would think about that. Also, you could have a wire crossed somewhere on the line. This is common and is most noticable on humid days. Sometimes it will be so bad that you can actually have a conversation with someone else in the neighborhood. Sounds almost like what your desribing could be a fax machine, perhaps if the wires are old or even crossed somewhere you could be hearing a fax transmission. I too, have thought my phone was tapped for sometime. I have not noticed it lately. I had the phone co. come out and check my line and mysteriously there was another line running from my house connected to what he said sounds like a computer. I have been on bb forever, so it wasn't mine. He cut the line for me. I still pick up a click when I call a certain handful of people but I don't know why they would listen to me, seems like it would get boring after a while. Anyway, I no longer like to talk politics on the phone and have just decided to talk in person only.

Bush is paranoid, don't follow in this delusional state. It's not healthy. Everyone knows he is the criminal, not us.

[datasuspect]

24. in texas

you can legally record a telephone call if one of the parties knows that the call is being recorded.

the person doing the recording can be one of those parties.

[datasuspect]

23. spooks like threads like these

or some 24 year data analyst in washington d.c./virginia who works for the government.

[RebelOne]

25. Have you any reason to believe that your phone

would be tapped? I don't think anyone would tap your phone just because you come to the DU forum.