Scroobal,
I know of that episode. LSC was surrounded by agents as well.
I don't get paranoid but to me, just tasteless mind games most of the time. Only people with some scandals or some scandalous secrets or skeletons need to be paranoid and afraid of being tapped. As for political secrets, it will never be communicated through any electronic means; most of the time, the intricate political calculations, intent and moves are just hidden deep inside the mind, never to be recorded or communicated at all.
Information is only communicated need to know basis. Disinformation is also communicated only need to misinform basis so that you will know and confirm the "leaks" when the time is right.
In order to protect information and our family members, they are not even told of any "top secret". You are right, most of the time feelers are sent to family members, friends and associates. There are ways to handle that.
In short, I will only let them know what I want them to know.
Of course, the part about foreign intelligence, that is another matter after all.
Goh Meng Seng