History of Innovations

• Murray Associates was the first TSCM firm with a published Operating Policy, and fixed Fee and Expense Schedule. Before this, practitioners either charged using unpredictable hourly fees, or flat-rates based on how much they thought they could charge. Some still do.

• We were also the first TSCM firm with a polygraph policy, to combat the “plant a bug, grow more work” mentality which was rampant at the time. Upon our discovery of bugging, wiretapping, or other forms of eavesdropping, clients have always had the right to verify our findings.

Miniature television cameras with AM micro-transmitters (900 MHz frequency range) became a major threat. Murray Associates was the first countermeasures firm to purchase a spectrum analyzer (Tektronix 2710) capable of receiving and viewing these TV signals.

Our client feedback system was established. From this date on, every assignment included a Quality Assurance Report card for the client. Our average Feedback Score is 9.4 out of a possible 10.

Miniature television cameras with FM microtransmitters (2.4 GHz frequency range) become a major threat. Most “countermeasures” equipment at the time couldn’t see these signals. Drawing together various technologies, Murray Associates created a system that was the next step in the evolution of spectrum analysis –  Radio-Reconnaissance Spectrum Analysis™.

We begin experimenting with infrared thermal imaging technology in 1999. After a year of research, we purchased a $60,000.00 thermal imager and the Thermal Emissions Spectrum Analysis™ (TESA™) inspection technique is born.

VoIP telephony becomes the rage, offering more affordable calls. While irresistible to clients, these services were vulnerable to wiretapping, denial of service attacks, and theft of services. Murray Associates was the first in our field to research this communications “advancement,” and provide our clients with a safe migration strategy.

Sony releases the first price-practical ($6,000.) UV digital television camera. We experiment with bringing this major technical advancement into our field. Evidence of electronic eavesdropping installations are viewed and documented with reflected and absorbed ultraviolet light.

We are the first in the private sector to invest ($109,000.00) in Real-Time Spectrum Analysis with DPX technology for our clients. DPX makes previously invisible bug signals visible.

GSM bugs began flooding the Internet ‘spy shops’ and eBay for as little as $25.00. They are very difficult to locate as they are dormant when not actively being listened to. In response to client’s concerns, Murray Associates developed Digital Surveillance Location Analysis™ (DSLA™) using modified instrumentation from AirPatrol Corporation.

• Our travel kit inspection capabilities were upgraded with the acquisition of a 50 kHz to 24 GHz spectrum analyzer.

• Murray Associates staff completed a law enforcement oriented cell phone forensics training course. The instructor was the Chief Detective in charge of the Pennsylvania State Police Digital Forensics Lab at the time.

Is My Cell Phone Bugged?: Everything You Need to Know to Keep Your Mobile Conversations Private – becomes a spyware evaluation app for Android smartphones. SpyWarn 2.0 is available at Google Play.

• SpyWarn™ 2.0 the forensic spyware evaluation app for Android is publicly launched on Google Play.

• This is quickly followed by the SpyWarn™ Anti-Spyware Kit for Smartphones. This security hardware is exclusively available to Murray Associates clients, free of charge.

• Bugging becomes a concern at cryptocurrency offices and data centers. We developed specialized TSCM procedures for our clients.

We introduced 360º degree photographic documentation of the sensitive areas we inspect as part of our electronic surveillance detection (TSCM) protocol. This assures we will detect subtle changes or additions during re-inspections. (Photo – Inspection of limousine wheel well.)

Conducted a 12-month evaluation of new remote Spyware Detection and Data Extraction instrumentation. Inspections could be conducted at client locations, or via sending smartphones, tablet or laptop devices via FedEx to our lab. Safe. Convenient. Private.

A new technology, Backscatter X-ray, is being deployed by U.S. Customs as a drug and money detection aid. We field tested this instrument to see if we could use it to help our clients. As amazing as the technology is, we found the screen resolution needed improvement for our purposes. We will keep our eye on it.

We discovered a new type of bug. It transmits via Wi-Fi and costs less than $10. We built one for testing and found it is undetectable using normal Wi-Fi analysis tools. We also figured out how to detect it.

We are working on it right now!