Benn Jordan

@jsrailton @aidaxbaradari I slapped together some analog and mems components to see if I could find an "RF signature" from them using the equipment I use to detect emf leakage. So far, nothing is detectable even with the microphones on top of an active loop antenna. 🤷🏻‍♂️

@aidaxbaradari 5/ Update: world-class explainer @bennjordan chimes in with diagram that perfectly captures the issue👇 x.com/bennjordan/sta…

Seen this viral tweet about a portable audio jammer? Looks cool, right? It also looks quite similar to 100s products sold on Alibaba & in spy shops for years. Or as DIY kits for $50 in parts. They use ultrasonic noise to overwhelm very close-by microphones. I'm skeptical about the price tag & way it's being marketed, and I'd like to share why: it seems to me that what differentiates this, aside from the privacy-aligned language, are claims that sound to me like they've developed "novel physics" & use AI to detect microphones. This would be extraordinary and would require equally extraordinary proof if true. I suspect that the reality may be more like using WiFi etc to scan for devices. This is not novel physics. The problem: many of the microphones that people are most worried about don't emit wifi or bluetooth etc. Or could be a phone in airplane mode. Etc. Additional issues around ultrasonic jamming? Complex range limitations, issues with room reflections, fabric absorbing emissions from your jammer, obstructions etc.. A phone in a fabric pocket might not be defeated by this device reliably, for example. Critically also: the range of this kind of tech is the distance between the emitter and the microphone. Not between you and the unwanted microphone. So if you are in a normal size room and the microphone is, say, 3 meters from you in the ceiling, or on the other side of the couch, it might well still hear you clearly. Consider asking your friendly local expert in audio, physics, or security before purchasing or investing in this product. I'm not one of those. Source of my understanding: I spent some time a few years ago planning to assemble such a device and read a lot of papers. I may be wrong in my understanding (or missing something!) and would happily correct if I've misunderstood what they are offering. To learn more about this popular and well-known category of object, watch @LinusTech from a year ago youtube.com/watch?v=FyeCn7…

@jsrailton @aidaxbaradari @be_inaudible Here you go.

Hi I have some specific questions about this product after watching your video: 1- This looks superficially similar to hundreds products that have been sold for many years in spy shops and on Alibaba etc. Or on DIY websites that can be assembled, open source, for $50. Can you explain the specifics of how it is different and why the price point is substantially higher? I note that your range claims in the >3m distance from the microphone doing the recording largely match those products so I'm curious. I also note that those products, when marketed honestly, note that things such as fabric, reflection, and distance create huge limits for ultrasound jamming that make it impossible to guarantee effective blocking in a room environment from a single emitter. 2- You make some specific claims about using "novel physics" and AI to identify and categorize microphones. These are claims that sound to my ear a bit extraordinary. Can you explain how that is possible? -How would this detect a microphone from a wired bug or espionage device? -Could you detect a dictaphone? -How would this detect a phone on airplane mode, or a smart speaker without wifi or bluetooth? -How would it detect a fixed-lilne speakerphone with an open line? You see where I'm going... If what you mean is that the tool does something RF scanning etc for wifi / bluetooth identifiers of devices known to have microphones, that's something quite different from microphone detection.

Today, we're introducing Spectre I, the first smart device to stop unwanted audio recordings. We live in a world of always-on listening devices. Smart devices and AI dominate our world in business and private conversations. With Deveillance, you will @be_inaudible.

@KyleGuin @LosAlamosNatLab Sent you a DM. :)

Last month we demonstrated our ability to communicate in/out of faraday cages and RF denied environments @LosAlamosNatLab. I'd like to put one of our devices on a drone and put it against a jammer. Anyone down? Shoot me a DM if you want to chat.

@soundthinking_ Here's me breaking your OCR model with a 100% success rate 3 months before you posted this.

For SoundThinking – CJIS compliance, edge-encryption, and regularly audited systems are non-negotiable. PlateRanger: ✅Strong Encryption ✅Proven OS ✅Secure Access ✅Privacy Safeguards ✅Robust Maintenance youtube.com/watch?v=uB0gr7…