Verb

eavesdropping

1. Present participle of eavesdrop.

Noun

Singular eavesdropping

Plural eavesdroppings

eavesdropping (plural eavesdroppings)

1. the action of the verb 'to eavesdrop'
2. listening secretly to the private conversations of others
3. (telecoms) the interception of electronic communications

Eavesdropping is the act of secretly listening to the private conversation of others without their consent, as defined by Black's Law Dictionary. This is commonly thought to be unethical and there is an old adage that eavesdroppers seldom hear anything good of themselves.

History

Ancient Anglo-Saxon law punished eavesdroppers, who skulked in the eavesdrip of another's home, with a fine; the eavesdrip was also sometimes called the eavesdrop. Eavesdrop also means a small low visibility hole near the entrance to a building (generally under the eaves) which would allow the occupants to listen in on the conversation of people awaiting admission to the house. Typically this would allow the occupant to be prepared for unfriendly visitors.

Early telephone systems shared party lines which would allow the sharing subscribers to listen to each others conversations. This was a common practice in rural America which resulted in many incidents and feuds.

See also:

• Business: Business Services: Fire and Security: Security: Investigation: Investigators (530)
• Business: Business Services: Fire and Security: Security: Surveillance (292)
• Computers: Hacking: HERF, EMP, Tempest (3)
• Computers: Security: Consultants (542)

• TSCM
  tscm.co.za
  Debugging and eavesdropping detection training and services. Based in South Africa.
• Communication Security Inc.
  bugsweep.com
  Technical surveillance countermeasure services. Bay City, Texas.
• EED Co, Inc
  bugfinderusa.com
  Offer counter-surveillance sweep services. Tools used, credentials and contact details. Based in New York, USA.