Use Skype to bug your home or office.
So, there's this free, cross platform (Windows, Mac, Linux, PocketPC), secure (allegedly all communications are encrypted), VOIP application called
Skype. Perhaps you've heard of it. They've been in the news once or twice recently.
I haven't used Skype a lot. I don't have any friends or family overseas and most of the people I speak to on the phone aren't computer geeks. I have, however, played with Skype enough to discover that you can use it as a covert listening device. Thats right kids, you can bug your home or office using Skype.
Basically all you do is set the options in Skype to silently auto-answer and only accept calls from select users.
Launch Skype, log in, click on 'Tools' and select 'Options...' from the menu.
Under Privacy, select the option to only allow calls from contacts.
Under Notifications, turn them all off.
Under Sounds, mute them all.
Under Advanced, select "Automatically Answer Incoming Calls"
Now click on Save, to activate these option settings.
At this point, anyone in your contacts list can Skype you, and be automatically and silently connected. They will be able to hear anything going on in range of the microphone.
Anything they say, will come through the speakers, unless you have the volume turned down, or if they mute their microphone.
What you would probably want to do is create a Skype login specifically for this task and make sure that its only allowed contact is your other Skype identity.
Now, keep in mind that if you were to actually DO any of this, it could very well be illegal, depending on circumstances. I certainly don't want to advocate doing anything illegal. This information is strictly for educational purposes. Your mileage may vary. Void where prohibited. Do not taunt Happy Fun Ball(TM). Or so I've heard...
