Eavesdropping
Eavesdropping is the
intercepting of conversations by unintended recipients. One who participates in
eavesdropping (i.e. someone who secretly listens in on the conversations of others) is called an eavesdropper. The origin of the term comes from situations in which people would literally hide out in the
eavesdrop of a house to listen in on private conversations.
Eavesdropping was already prohibited by ancient
Anglo-Saxon law. From the Saxon custom arose the term eavesdropping, as being one who pries into the business of others or listens to private conversations. By common law, an eavesdropper was regarded as a nuisance. The offense was punishable by fine. Though the offense of eavesdropping still exists in common law, there is no modern instance of a prosecution or indictment.
Eavesdropping can also be done over
telephone lines,
email,
instant messaging, and any other method of
communication considered private. (If a message is publicly broadcast, witnessing it does not count as eavesdropping).
Messages can be protected against eavesdropping by employing a
security service of confidentiality (or privacy). This security service is usually implemented by
encryption.
In ancient China, it is said that to prevent eavesdropping when discussing important matters, soldiers would instead draw the
characters on hands or papers.
The Canadian heroine
Laura Secord is famous for having eavesdropped on the plans of the American army and delivering this information to the British.
"Belly-buster" hand-
audio listening devices. After assembly, the base of the drill was held firmly against the stomach while the handle was cranked manually. This kit came with several drill bits and accessories.
Eavesdropping is something of a
clichéd
plot device in fiction, allowing the hero or villain to gain vital information by deliberately or accidentally overhearing a conversation. For instance, in "
Letting In the Jungle" by
Rudyard Kipling,
Mowgli overhears the hunter
Buldeo telling some men that Mowgli's adopted mother
Messua is about to be
executed, so Mowgli sets about rescuing her.
*
French Eavesdropping Affair (1983-86)*
Computer surveillance*
ECHELON*
Espionage*
Magic (cryptography)*
NSA warrantless surveillance controversy (December 2005-2006)
*
Opportunistic encryption*
Privacy*
Secure communication*
Surveillance*
Telephone tapping*
Ultra*
Keyghost - Hardware PS2 and USB Keystroke Recording
