Ultrasonic microphone jammers, do they really work?
It’s a question we get asked occasionally when one of our clients sees one of these devices being advertised on the internet. Who can blame them for asking? The ads claim they can stop microphones from working properly. Instant privacy from electronic eavesdroppers, and anyone who is attempting to record your conversations. Finally, Kryptonite for microphones!?!? Wow, how does that work?
The explanation is really simple:
- These ultrasonic microphone jammers have multiple speakers.
- Think of them as powerful audio amplifiers pumping out sound… VERY loud sound.
- That sound is comprised of two different frequencies (sometimes more) coming at you, all at the same time.
- In some ultrasonic microphone jammers the frequencies vary, just to make the final waveform more complex. Ooh, tricky!
- Humans can’t perceive these sounds because they are above the human hearing range, thus they are called ultrasound. Some animals can, however. Think dog whistle and bats.
- Now the science… When frequencies mix in a non-linear way, such as in a microphone, they create new frequencies—by adding and subtracting their frequencies.
- When the frequencies add to each other they of course create higher frequencies—more ultrasound.
- The subtraction of one frequency from the other creates a lower frequency that is within the human hearing range. This is what screws up microphones.
Sounds like a winner so far. Right?
You can almost see the headlines…
Ultrasonic Microphone Jammers Put TSCM Teams Out of Business
Not so fast, amigo.
Aside from not being a 100% effective countermeasure (see the first link below), and the null spots in the room where the noise is absent, there are human health considerations.
This would drive anyone with a hearing aid nuts, scare animals, lead to hearing loss, and other unpleasant physical symptoms.
Just to be somewhat effective these devices need to be very loud. Even though humans can’t perceive the sound as sound, it still zaps the delicate mechanisms of the inner ear, and rattles the brain.
We do not recommend the ultrasonic microphone jammer as a Technical Surveillance Countermeasures technique. In fact, most people would be really be upset if they were unknowingly subjected to this by someone else. Some might also think… lawsuit.
More information about ultrasonic microphone jammers as a countermeasures technique.
- Here is a more detailed explanation of how ultrasonic microphone jammers work.
- Scientific paper… Damage to human hearing by airborne sound of very high frequency or ultrasonic frequency.
- More… “Occupational exposure to ultrasound in excess of 120 dB may lead to hearing loss. Exposure in excess of 155 dB may
produce heating effects that are harmful to the human body, and it has been calculated that exposures above 180 dB may lead to death.“ - Effects of ultrasonic noise on the human body.
- Some of my posts about ultrasound… https://spybusters.blogspot.com/search?q=ultrasonic
- The latest on the Cuba issue… https://spectrum.ieee.org/semiconductors/devices/how-we-reverse-engineered-the-cuban-sonic-weapon-attack, a possible explanation.
The ultrasonic microphone jammers as a countermeasures technique magic bullet has been around for decades. We experimented with it in the 1980’s. Guess what, we have yet to come across any board or conference room which has one installed.
It is admirable my clients have their eyes open for new solutions. Most folks have their heads in the sand when it comes to electronic surveillance threats. Questions like this are welcome. It lets us know they care about keeping their strategic meetings secure.
We wish we had better news for you on this front. The good news is that Technical Surveillance Countermeasures (TSCM), coupled with information security surveys, continues to be the best defense. Hey, if you don’t look, you’ll never know.
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Murray Associates is an independent security consulting firm, providing eavesdropping detection and counterespionage services to business, government and at-risk individuals.
Headquartered in the New York metropolitan area, a Murray Associates team can assist you quickly, anywhere in the United States, and internationally.
EXTRAS:
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• Concerned about Spy Cameras? Learn how to detect them.
