spy devices in movies - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: FrankBuss
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 03, 2014, 01:03:11 pm
content: In the movie "Chuck" there is a bug for eavesdropping on conversations, called "GLG-20". It looks like this:Looks like a standard TO-220 part with unconnected leads, which of course doesn't make sense at all, but I can't find any datasheet for a device with a GLG-20 marking. Did they laser engraved it for the movie? Some trivia page says it is a reference to another movie.The PCB with the SOT-23 might be a voltage regulator, with an input and output cap, and maybe a resistor, glued on the TO-220, which might be glued on a small plastic block.Anyone who knows other silly spy devices in movies? Why don't they use real bugs?

author: sacherjj
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 03, 2014, 02:32:10 pm
content: With the other components, it is some type of TO-220 module. Most likely the sticker is prop based.My guess would be a switch mode DC-DC convertor that is a drop in linear regulator replacement.

author: PA0PBZ
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 03, 2014, 02:46:02 pm
content: Looks like a TO-220 stuffed into an old FT243 Crystal:

author: kizzap
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 04, 2014, 12:35:20 am
content: Not a movie, but suitably cringe-worthy from the TV series Burn Notice (decent series IMO):

author: Richard Crowley
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 04, 2014, 01:37:47 am
content: I suspect that most scriptwriters aren't clever enough (and most audiences wouldn't get it anyway). And the budget for "high-tech" props on weekly TV shows isn't typically rich enough to provide realistic stuff.One exception appears to be the TV series "Extant" which has raised the bar on props and sets (or maybe simply CGI) for a weekly TV sci-fi drama. Of course they list Steven Spielberg as one of the executive producers and it is done by his "Amblin" production company. And the crew credits reads like a feature film. And there were an endless list of inventions of Milo Rambaldi on the TV series "Alias". Many of them quite clever both in design and execution by the props and CGI departments.But nobody could have come up with something as clever as "The Thing". A PASSIVE condenser microphone, connected directly to a tuned antenna, and buried inside a carving of the Great Seal of the United States. The carving was presented to the US embassy in Moscow as a "gesture of goodwill" by the USSR. After many successful years of covert surveillance, it was discovered by accident in a routine sweep of the ambassador's office.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thing_(listening_device)

author: David_AVD
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 04, 2014, 02:07:25 am
content: I love it (lmao) when I see a covert tracking device being attached to a car in a movie / TV show.Why do they almost always feature a bright flashing LED and a disproportionately large toggle switch?

author: sacherjj
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 04, 2014, 02:29:39 am
content: Quote from: David_AVD on September 04, 2014, 02:07:25 amThis is also an important design feature for covert explosives.

author: calexanian
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 04, 2014, 03:15:57 am
content: I recently happened to be staying at the RIO in vegas during a star trek convention, so I bought an afternoon pass to have a look around. They had a display area for movie and tv show props in glass cases. Any of us could make way way way more realistic looking things out of junk laying around the floor, but in the context of the movie or tv show, it just really does not matter. Some of it from movies I remember fondly looked just like junk carved out of a piece of wood and painted. Interestingly enough the stuff from star trek TOS actually looked pretty good. The communicators had what looked like real little tiny colored jewel lamp holders on it and The little cut out for the speaker had a pretty detailed pattern on it, and the cases were vacuum formed grained ABS. They looked more like the reproduction toy ones than I thought they would. Actually looked like something that would actually work with the tech of the late 60's. a transistor radio or such into that packaging. And we looked on it with such amazement back then! Also the original tircorder was built in the same manner. the little bezel and glass screen appeared to have been borrowed from some actual product, and the case looked to be a leather/vinyl carry DMM case somebody had made. The stuff from other movies and shows looked atrocious.

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 04, 2014, 04:40:52 am
content: If you want to see what the real trackers look like you just have to watch a few videos from Reponut on YT, where he actually uses them to track vehicles. GPS and cellular modem in a small unit that is attached with a supermagnet or a zip tie to the underside of the vehicle.

author: kolbep
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 04, 2014, 05:33:54 am
content: The reason they do not use 'real' spy bugs in the movie is simply this :You know the Over-Eager rookie, as soon as he finds the bug, he stomps it to smithereens.Then the proper detective says something like 'Why did you do that' we could have backtracked the signal it was transmitting, and see who is using this bugAnyway, I digress,Now take that bug stomping rookie. If they use Real bugs & If the directors do not like the shot & and tells them to retake it (several times) = the accounts department will flip their nuts.Maybe they should use a 8 pin DIL device as their spy bug, then have the BAREFOOTED rookie throw it on the floor (where it accidently lands PINS up), and then he stomps on it. That would be a good movie to watch!

author: AlfBaz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 04, 2014, 06:20:53 am
content: Quote from: FrankBuss on September 03, 2014, 01:03:11 pmAs always the Simpsons provide the answershttp://evergreenterrace.com.au/2013/01/cows-dont-look-like-cows-on-film-you-gotta-use-horses/

author: German_EE
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 04, 2014, 09:00:06 am
content: Three years ago whilst I was living in Eastern Europe I found a real bug hidden inside our landline phone. One of the cats knocked the phone off the table after which it rattled so I opened the case to see if it could be repaired. Inside was a small PCB about 3cm x 4cm that had a single DIP package on it and half a dozen SMT components, the top of the DIP had been sand papered smooth and four wires connected the PCB to the outside line, microphone and earpiece. The PCB was obviously not part of the original phone as the connections had been made by pulling back the insulation and then winding the wires around the exposed copper till there was a tight connection.I suspect that the PCB was an 'infinity bug' that used the landline to send audio out to whoever was listening. After removal of the bug the phone still worked so I sealed the screw holes and put it back into service.

author: FrankBuss
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 04, 2014, 09:21:50 am
content: Quote from: Richard Crowley on September 04, 2014, 01:37:47 amNice, and they did this in 1945. I guess nowadays there are even more sophisticated bugs.Quote from: kizzap on September 04, 2014, 12:35:20 amWow, that's really bad, just a TSOP IC with a sticker. But right, the best gadgets are in Star Trek.

author: David_AVD
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 04, 2014, 10:15:41 am
content: Quote from: FrankBuss on September 04, 2014, 09:21:50 amNo, I think that's just the exposed pad on the underside of the chip.

author: sacherjj
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 04, 2014, 11:12:39 am
content: Quote from: David_AVD on September 04, 2014, 10:15:41 amBy exposed pad, I believe you meant the "high frequency radio communication ground plane" on the bottom of the bug.

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 04, 2014, 12:35:59 pm
content: I have seen in one Russian conspiracy/bullshit TV show (not conspiracy is bullshit but particular show) where Anna Chapman showing 0805 SMD resistor on her finger and saying that it is a high tech bugFrankly I wasn't watching this, just was passing by when my mother was watching TV. And she seriously believes tho that bullshit.

author: janekm
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 04, 2014, 12:48:41 pm
content: Quote from: wraper on September 04, 2014, 12:35:59 pmAlong similar lines, the "microchips" supposedly implanted in irons/kettles by China, with microphone and a wifi module supposed to connect to insecure wifi networks and distribute malware:http://thehackernews.com/2013/11/russia-finds-spying-microchips-planted_1.html. I saw a debunking of that somewhere but can't find that now...

author: Stonent
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 04, 2014, 01:10:31 pm
content: Glg-20 was the name for the kind of spies from the movie "Spies like us"

author: atunguyd
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 04, 2014, 01:46:53 pm
content: Its not the bugs I have issue with in the movies - what gets me is that they jump in a car, feel under the dash for a few seconds and just start the engine - never mind the steering lock and ignition transmonder etc... just feel under the dash without looking and you got the car started.Then as if that is not bad enough some even show a closup of what the actor is doing - they strip two wires, briefly touch them to make a spark and somehow this completes the ignition circutry and works the starter motor........

author: Balaur
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 04, 2014, 02:03:05 pm
content: Quote from: atunguyd on September 04, 2014, 01:46:53 pmI remember a scene from "Baggage Battles" where one of the actors (Mark) wanted to check whether an ancient telegraph/Morse device still worked. So he said that these devices work on a form of electricity that's very hard to find now () and he used jumper cables from his car to apply voltage on some exposed supply screws from the poor device. What's funny is that he touched the two crocodile clips together to make sparks. He did that several times.

author: Stonent
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 04, 2014, 03:39:57 pm
content: Quote from: Balaur on September 04, 2014, 02:03:05 pmThey probably used mains DC, which is usually more dangerous than AC, since it causes your muscles to contract and makes it impossible for you to let go.