Methods and apparatus are provided for preventing a third party from listening to a conversation between at least two participants on a telephone. The telephone generates an audio stimulus signal that is presented through a secondary speaker. The audio stimulus signal may be, for example, pseudorandom noise or a cancellation signal. According to one aspect of the invention, the telephone ensures that the audio stimulus signal does not significantly impair the conversation for the at least two participants. To prevent the third party from listening to the local portion of the conversation, the audio stimulus signal is subtracted from the received signal prior to presenting the received signal to the user. To prevent the third party from listening to the remote portion of the conversation, the audio stimulus signal is subtracted from the received signal.

 
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