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A. While tap isn't really the right term, your son is right. Older cordless phones can be monitored by scanners available at consumer electronic outlets. Although newer models offer improved security, they are still exceptionally vulnerable. Legalities here can get pretty confused, since it's not really illegal to monitor the airwaves. Usually "intent" can have a lot to do with how this monitoring would be viewed from a legal viewpoint.
Q. Are cellular phone's secure?
A. Absolutely not. Cellular phone conversations are relatively easy to monitor and cell phones should never be used for discussing confidential matters. It's best to think of the level of security while talking on a cellular phone as being about the same as when talking on an open channel C.B. radio, but without the requirement to say things like,"Breaker, Breaker."
Q. In old World War II movies, the spies used to run water in the bath while talking so the Nazis couldn't overhear their conversations with the bugs in the hotel rooms. Does this really work?
A. To an extent this works, but generating white noise works better. Nothing sophisticated is needed to do this. Simply tune a television set to an unused UHF channel and turn up the sound of the static. While this white noise generation will play havoc with devices recording transmissions, it will have no real effect on the ability of a person who is physically monitoring the transmissions to clearly hear the conversation along with the static.
Q. Does it make sense to check autos for taps and bugs?
Monitoring cell phones requires no installation in the vehicle and transmitters are unlikely, unless confidential topics are regularly discussed while driving. However, due to the recent proliferation of vehicular tracking devices, we now routinely check client's vehicles for such devices on most electronic countermeasures surveys.
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