Emission Security Limits for Compromising Emanations Using Electromagnetic Emanation Security Channel Analysis

Lee, Hee-Kyung; Kim, Yong‐Hwa; Kim, Young-Hoon; Kim, Seong-Cheol

doi:10.1587/transcom.e96.b.2639

Cited by 13 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…The video display signal is considered to be the most unsafe in terms of vulnerability to electromagnetic intrusion attacks from all compromising signals that can be emitted by a personal computer. This is also recognized by the TEMPEST procedures [14], which assign to this type of signal the most restrictive corresponding category as a compromising signal. The successive video frames are similar to each other and, for this reason, the video signal has the attributes of a repetitive signal, which means that it is almost periodic [15].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 86%

“…The effectiveness of the electromagnetic infiltration can be limited in several ways: limiting levels of electromagnetic emissions correlated (having distinctive features) with processed information [14][15][16][17], a disturbance of existing revealing emissions [18,19] or appropriate shaping of the emission source to eliminate features that enable identification e.g., of text data characters [20][21][22].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Assessing the Security of TEMPEST Fonts against Electromagnetic Eavesdropping by Using Different Specialized Receivers

Kubiak

Boitan²,

Halunga

2020

Applied Sciences

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The main topic of the present paper is the printed text protection against electromagnetic infiltration. There are many solutions to protect such data. One of these methods is the one that uses computer fonts that are characterized by special shapes. The suitability of the solution has to be confirmed by many tests and analyses. An important element of such researches is the class of receiving devices used. In the case of measurements of the valuable emissions arising from electronic data processing of the printed text, typical receivers that are used for measurements of electromagnetic compatibility cannot be used. They have to be dedicated devices for measuring the very low level of signal that arises unintentionally. The sensitivity of the receiver must be very high in wide measuring bands. In addition, in order to assess the method of preventing electromagnetic infiltration, it is important to verify it by independent institutions. An additional advantage is the use of different receivers in the assessment process. This paper presents the results of studies made regarding the suitability of two sets of fonts with special shapes (secure symmetrical and secure asymmetrical) in secure information processing. The analysis of the fonts was based on visual examination, a basic method of preliminary assessment of electromagnetic emissions correlated with processed text information, of the images reproduced from unwanted emissions. The tests were carried out at two independent institutions, Military Communication Institute—Poland, Special Telecommunications Services—Romania, using three different types of receivers: Tempest Test System DSI-1550A, Rohde & Schwarz FSET22 and Rohde & Schwarz FSWT. The images obtained in the two independent laboratories with different setup and test equipment confirmed thus without doubt the possibility of using special fonts as the solution against an effectiveness of electromagnetic infiltration. The above assessment is correct, regardless of the used receiver and the environment of implementation of the secure fonts.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 86%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing the Security of TEMPEST Fonts against Electromagnetic Eavesdropping by Using Different Specialized Receivers

Kubiak

Boitan²,

Halunga

2020

Applied Sciences

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“…Protection of information against electromagnetic eavesdropping in modern electronic systems is a big challenge. Such kind of eavesdropping is connected with electromagnetic emissions which are correlated with processed information [1][2][3]. This problem increases with a higher and higher use of electronic devices for processing and transmitting information.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The electromagnetic emissions with distinctive features can arise at any stage of processing of information (e.g. transmission, displaying on screen, printing) which occur in the electric form [1,[4][5][6][7][8]. Video signals are particularly dangerous (Figure 1) [9,10].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Electromagnetic Eavesdropping

Kubiak¹

2020

Recent Trends in Communication Networks

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Protection of information against electromagnetic penetration is a huge challenge. Especially this issue applies to computer station that processes protected information and that is a source of electromagnetic disturbances. These disturbances could be correlated with processed graphic information. Therefore, very often, they are called valuable or unintentional emissions. To protect the information, different methods of engineering of electromagnetic compatibility are used, e.g. electromagnetic gaskets, signal and power filters and electromagnetic shielding. The use of these methods causes a special device to become very heavy, and the looks of such device aren't nice. A new universal solution based on safe fonts is proposed. Safe fonts protect processed information against electromagnetic penetration in each case of graphic source of valuable emissions. These fonts protect not only Video Graphics Array (VGA) but also Digital Video Interface (DVI) standards. These fonts are also useful from electromagnetic protection's point of view in the case of the use of laser printers. All analyses are based on images reconstructed from valuable emissions. These emissions are measured in a range of frequencies from 100 MHz to 1.5 GHz. Safe fonts are simple solution that counteract electromagnetic eavesdropping process. They can replace expensive solutions based on shielding, zoning and filtering.

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“…This signal is transmitted from a computer to a screen or to a laser printer. In this case, this signal become a source of electromagnetic emissions which have characteristics of this signal [3,4,5]. This phenomenon makes it possible to reconstruct every processed character and thus all text displayed on the screen or printed on the laser printer.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Font Design—Shape Processing of Text Information Structures in the Process of Non-Invasive Data Acquisition

Kubiak

2019

Computers

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Computer fonts can be one of solutions supporting a protection of information against electromagnetic penetration. This solution is called "Soft TEMPEST". However, not every font has features which counteract the process of electromagnetic infiltration. The distinctive features of characters of font determine it. This article presents two sets of new computer fonts. These fonts are fully usable in everyday work. Simultaneously they make it impossible to obtain information using the non-invasive method. Names of these fonts are directly related to the shapes of the characters. Each character of these fonts is built only with vertical and horizontal lines. The differences between them consist in the different widths of the vertical lines. The Symmetrical Safe font is built from vertical lines with the same widths. The Asymmetrical Safe font is built from vertical lines with two different widths of lines. However, the appropriate proportions of the widths of the lines and clearances of each character of the safe font have to be met. The aim of this article is the presentation new solution in area of protection of information against electromagnetic penetration. It is a new approach which could replace old solutions in form of heavy shielding's, power and signal filters and also electromagnetic gaskets. Simultaneously, an application of new fonts is very easy. Only need to that the Asymmetrical Safe font or the Symmetrical Safe font is installed on computer station which processes text data.

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Emission Security Limits for Compromising Emanations Using Electromagnetic Emanation Security Channel Analysis

Cited by 13 publications

References 5 publications

Assessing the Security of TEMPEST Fonts against Electromagnetic Eavesdropping by Using Different Specialized Receivers

Assessing the Security of TEMPEST Fonts against Electromagnetic Eavesdropping by Using Different Specialized Receivers

Electromagnetic Eavesdropping

Font Design—Shape Processing of Text Information Structures in the Process of Non-Invasive Data Acquisition

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