Snooping Through Walls with Microwaves

denis-The-menace writes "According to an article from newscientist, scientists have devised a system to use microwave energy for surveillance. If people are speaking inside the room, any flimsy surface, such as clothing, will be vibrating. This modulates the radio beam reflected from the surface. Although the radio reflection that passes back through the wall is extremely faint, the kind of electronic extraction and signal cleaning tricks used by NASA to decode signals in space can be used to extract speech. Although, I doubt it would work in this room"

1st sign the feds are onto you...

[titla1k]

is there's a van sitting outside your house, with a whole lot of kitchen appliances pointing at it.

Invest in AA

[TripMaster Monkey]

I think I'm going to buy stock in Alcoa Operations [alcoa.com]...with shenanigans like this going on, they can only increase in value.

In the meantime, here's some telltale signs you might be under microwave surveillance:

• You feel slightly warmer than is normal.
  
• Your food seems to be cooking itself.
  
• Metal objects in your house give off sparks for no good reason.
  
• Your coffee remins hot for a very long time.
  
• Your beer remains cold for a very short time.
  
• All your CDs are covered with tiny cracks and will no longer play.
  
• Your house pets smell delicious.
  

Watch for these signs and protect your privacy...cause the government certainly isn't going to.

Just Friggin' Great

[SecureTheNet]

Now, when the NSA spies on me, my wi-fi network will be unable to work due to interference!

oh no

[NoGuffCheck]

luckily my parents basement has thick walls.

How long?

[xor.pt]

How long till they incorporate this feature into an iPod?

Food fun

[Snamh Da Ean]

Man, I knew that burrito I put in the microwave last night when I came home from a party was speaking to me...

Re:Makes little difference

[Jetboy01]

With all these new snooping devices being invented, I think it's time someone devised the 'tinfoil flat'.

Microwave Eavesdropping

[hardburlyboogerman]

My preference to microwaves transmitted in order to invade my privacy is to send hot lead back,at high speed

Re:foil vibrates too

[polysylabic psudonym]

You're right. The foil will have to be glued to the wall sheeting, egg cartons to the foil, another layer of foil over the egg cartons.

Let 'em try then!

I can see the RIAA using it!!

[AnonymousYellowBelly]

Yeah, they listen to the music playing inside your house. Say you are hearing the latest hit from Britney Spears but the RIAA has no record of you buying it, well they turn the 'volume' to 11 on their microwave emitter and fry your balls, burn your house and kill your dog. Justice has been served, right?

Re:Makes little difference

[jolyonr]

Therefore anyone listening to rap music must be a criminal!

Arrest them straight away!

Jolyon

Re:1st sign the feds are onto you...

[pilybaby]

...owned by the company

Flowers
By
Irene

Re:1st sign the feds are onto you...

[moviepig.com]

If people are speaking [then] clothing... will be vibrating.

So the hell with eyes... it's actually possible to undress her with your diction...

Re:Makes little difference

[Dogtanian]

The best crims are never found out hence, their success and covertness.

a) buy gold
[..]
e) never ever talk , paint a false picture to everyone including your wife/kids

Doesn't that include not discussing it on Slashdot either? Plus, you forgot...

(g) Don't give away all your secrets.

Re:Makes little difference

[Talas213]

A microwave device can be defeated by the good old tinfoil hat - by which I mean wallpapering in foil or otherwise turning the room into a faraday cage.

I'd suggest lining the walls with bags of popcorn. That way you'll know when you're under survellance and have a nice snack readily available.

Re:Not new tech

[AndroidCat]

Unfortunetely, he never did get all the bugs out of his device. People always knew they were being listened to when the creepy music started. "Quiet, it's the KGB .. or the Krell."

Fire Fire, heh heh..

[Anonymous Coward]

Heh heh, he said 'Dic'tion. Heh heh

Re:In analogue phone days

[IIH]

I didn't think that sort of evidence was admissible in a UK court.

Evidence?? Court?? You are running an old version of UK, please upgrade where these bugs have been removed in an effort to improve security.

maybe this is the only option...

[doyoudig]

THE CONE OF SILENCE! http://www.cinerhama.com/getsmart/innovations.html [cinerhama.com]