Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!sdd.hp.com!spool.mu.edu!telecom-request From: fred@aficom.ocunix.on.ca (Fred Ennis) Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom Subject: The "Sweep" Tone Message-ID: Date: 2 Apr 91 05:07:25 GMT Article-I.D.: eecs.telecom11.264.7 Sender: Telecom@eecs.nwu.edu Organization: AFI Communications - Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Lines: 16 Approved: Telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 11, Issue 264, Message 7 of 8 Scott Marshall recently gave a "sweep" number that he wrongly thought would provide a "sweep" of the line for bugs or taps. The "sweep" at that number is a sweep of frequencies, which you either monitor on a scope or with a meter to check the frequency responsoe of the line. Since a search for bugs or taps on a line is also called a "sweep" we can see how the "urban legend" got started. Bottom line is that it's nearly impossible to detect a properly installed legal wiretap. The best you can do is just try to confuse whoever might be listening in (grin).