The feeling of being watched or listened to is unsettling, whether it concerns a boardroom where negotiation strategy keeps leaking or a home where an ex-partner seems to know too much. Some fears turn out to be unfounded; others are very real. Professional counter-surveillance in Athens and across Greece gives you a clear answer, based on a methodical technical and physical inspection rather than suspicion.
The office of Petros Drolias, licensed private investigator since the early 1990s, has handled more than 1,500 cases in 14 countries. Counter-surveillance is one of the areas where experience matters most: knowing where devices are typically hidden, how stalkerware behaves on a phone and how to read the context around a leak.
What counter-surveillance covers
The six services below protect people and businesses against unlawful monitoring. They are often combined, for example a premises sweep with a check of key executives' phones.
Counter-surveillance measures
Not all surveillance is electronic. If you believe you are being followed or watched, we assess the situation discreetly: whether there is a pattern, who may be responsible and why. We can carry out counter-surveillance on your movements to confirm or rule out physical surveillance, and advise on practical steps to protect yourself.
Premises sweeps
A technical surveillance countermeasures (TSCM) sweep is a systematic inspection of a space for hidden microphones, cameras, transmitters and GPS trackers. We check offices, boardrooms, homes, hotel rooms and vehicles you own or use, combining physical search with specialised detection equipment. Sweeps can be scheduled discreetly, outside working hours, or immediately before sensitive meetings.
Mobile phone checks
Phones are now the most common target. We examine your own phone, or a company phone you are responsible for, for stalkerware and spyware, suspicious profiles or settings, unknown linked accounts and signs of compromise. You receive a clear explanation of what was found and how to secure the device and your accounts going forward.
Computer checks
Laptops and desktops can be monitored through remote-access tools, keyloggers, malicious browser extensions or shared cloud accounts. We check your own computers for these indicators, review account access and settings, and recommend practical measures. For businesses, we coordinate with your IT team or provider.
Security systems
Alarms, cameras, access control and smart-home devices are meant to protect you, but when poorly configured they can be used against you. We review your systems for weaknesses such as default passwords, unknown users or exposed camera feeds, and advise on how to close them.
Preventive measures
Prevention is cheaper than damage control. We help businesses and individuals put sensible measures in place: clear rules on devices in meeting rooms, visitor and contractor procedures, account security, periodic sweeps and awareness for key staff. The goal is a culture where confidential information is protected as a matter of routine.
How a sweep is carried out
We first talk to you, ideally away from the space or device you are worried about, to understand the concern and the context. We agree what will be checked, when and by whom, and you receive a written cost estimate.
The inspection itself is carried out methodically and documented. If we find a device, we leave it in place, photograph it and advise you on involving your lawyer and the police. You receive a written report describing what was checked, the findings and recommended measures.
Who asks for a sweep
Counter-surveillance is not only for large corporations. The people who contact us include:
- executives and boards before mergers, tenders, negotiations or disputes
- law firms protecting privileged conversations with clients
- shipping and trading companies whose commercial terms seem to reach competitors first
- individuals going through a difficult separation who suspect an ex-partner is tracking them
- public figures, journalists and people who have received threats
- foreign visitors and executives staying in hotels or rented properties for sensitive business in Athens
A hypothetical example illustrates the value of a methodical approach. A company whose bid prices keep being undercut might assume a hidden microphone in the boardroom. A sweep may find nothing in the room, but reveal a forwarding rule on an executive's email account or a shared calendar visible to outsiders. Knowing the real cause is what allows you to fix it.
Before we arrive
If you suspect a space is being monitored, avoid discussing your suspicion inside it and do not start searching or unplugging things yourself; you may destroy evidence or alert whoever placed the device. Keep the number of people who know about the sweep to a minimum, and contact us from a phone and location you trust. We will agree a time that attracts no attention.
The legal framework
Illegal interception and recording is a criminal offence under Article 370A of the Greek Penal Code, and Article 19 of the Constitution protects the privacy of communications. Our work is defensive: we check spaces and devices that you own, use lawfully or are responsible for. We do not examine other people's devices without lawful consent, and we process any personal data we encounter in line with the GDPR and Law 4624/2019.
Book a confidential check
If you suspect you are being monitored, contact us from a safe phone or location for a free, confidential consultation. Call 24/7 or use our contact page. Companies concerned about leaks may also want to read about our corporate investigations, and anyone worried about their own devices can start with our free self-check tools.