First all SETI searches are based on a couple of assumptions.
Other technical civs exist
And they deliberately WANT to find young emerging civs
Therefore, they are doing several things such as sending BEAMED TARGETED transmissions of radio or optical (easier) energy at solar type stars like the sun to contact newbie civs.

We have backyard CCD optical technology to detect optical laser flashes that an advanced civ could use to signal to millions of stars per day using high energy laser transmitters. Admitedly higher energy transmitters than we can make today, but not so in < 40 years.

So, IF and it's the big if, these civs exist in the first place and IF any ONE of them sets up a welcoming signal, SETI has a shot.

The common misconception that SETI is an eavesdroping game is not so. Way too little energy (photons) for us to detect. Read the SETI websites.

-philw