Mandatory disclaimer: I DO NOT condone the use any device used to spy, record or infringe on the privacy of others. I DO NOT know of any such devices that are in actual use. I DO NOT encourage eavesdropping of any sort. This article is for entertainment and educational use only. Use of such device could constitute a felony.
The Long-Ear Project, also known as the LAN Com, started off as an ideal way to communicate with others over a Local Area Network. Before I get into the how and why of the technical I would like to explain how I came up with the name Long-Ear. It all began with a concept of cannibalizing an existing network so real-time communications could be conducted undetected, as well as without sucking up any bandwidth. Since cannibals call their food long-pigs and the food called the cannibals long-ears (because many of them had stretched their earlobes into large loops) I felt Long-Ear was perfect in a dual sense. First we are cannibalizing a network to do our own bidding. Second we are using this to listen to something far away, Walla! (I didn’t say it would make sense to you!)
Long Ear and Long-Ear
Some people have asked me why go through the trouble of developing and then implementing a way to talk to one another over a network, why not use a radio or telephone? Well there is a simple answer to that, this way it is a lot harder to be overheard. With the radio anyone who happens to be on the same frequency will be privy to your conversation. With the phone it is harder to tap into but it is not always convenient to have a phone endlessly glued to you head. With the Long-Ear there is no frequency to scan, no boss to walk in to catch you chatting away, and no annoying questions if he does walk in. More than likely the boss will just think you are nuts for talking to yourself. Plus the Long-Ear could be used for more than just two-way communications. With the elimination of a microphone on one end and the output on the other end it is an ideal listening device. You get all the benefits of bugging an office without any of the red tape of buying equipment or the hassle of needing permission. It is kind of like playing CIA or FBI without having to pass a drug test or a polygraph.
Ok I guess it is time for the technical part. We will start of easy, a beginners kit so to speak. I will only give details for a one-way listening device if you want a full duplex just double the order for the microphones and output jacks and connect one of each in the butt block. First you need the following supplies and tools.
- One mini microphone (higher the sensitivity the better)
- One 1/8” stereo jack
- Two Category 5 extension blocks (butt blocks)
- Small size shrink tubing
- Soldering iron and solder
- Super glue
- Drill and drill bits
Ok so you ask yourself where am I going to find a mini mike and a 1/8” stereo jack? Have no fear you probably have one very close to you right now. I am talking about computer microphones. The great thing about a computer mikes are they are cheap and easy to find. Another nice thing is they are already configured perfectly for this project. My personal favorite bonus of using a computer mike is if you get an identical match to the one where you want to set up a listening post you can actuality leave the mike intact. This is a separate idea and takes big balls of brass to pull this one off. Mostly due to the problems if the intended target walks in on you with the computer disassembled and a soldering iron in your hand. If you have skills and unlimited access to the target computer this trouble can be avoided.
The first phase is to open the butt blocks. This is done very easily by grasping both ends and pushing with your thumbs, as if you were going to snap a pencil. Now that the thing is separated remove the wires by inserting an Ethernet end into the port and gently pulling on the wires while inserting a small flat-blade screwdriver into the slot under the port. The next step is to get the mike installed into the butt block. To do this, CARFULLY drill a hole in the side of the block. After the hole is drilled take the center wire section and clip wires 7 and 8 (brown and white on most) then solder the mini mike to the wires. It is important to keep polarity correct so make sure to note what mike wire is connected to 7 and what one is on 8. Remember to use shrink tubing on the connections. After the connections are done replace connectors in to there housing and make sure the mike is flush with the outside of the butt block. Now just snap the thing back together and use a tiny amount of super glue insure the thing won’t come apart. The transmitter is now complete.
The second phase is the receiver. On this one the disassembly and reassembly is the same the only change is use the 1/8” jack and the hole is smaller. This end plugs into your sound card and boom you are in business.
Stay tuned for next month’s continuation on The Long-Ear Project level 2
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