TEMPEST font counteracting a noninvasive acquisition of text data

Kubiak, Ireneusz

doi:10.3906/elk-1704-263

Cited by 8 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…In this case, an increase of levels of measured emission by approximately several dB could enable the possibility of non-invasive acquisition of information (Figure 14) [20,21].…”

Section: Valuable Emissionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of IT Devices Production Quality on the Level of Protection of Processed Information against the Electromagnetic Infiltration Process

Kubiak

2019

Electronics

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Due to the variety and multiplicity of electronic devices, the issue of electromagnetic environment protection is becoming more and more important. We often hear about how necessary it is for electronic devices to meet appropriate requirements. Meeting these requirements determines whether a device can be marketed. Unfortunately, the electrical parameters of electronic components have a very wide range of tolerances. For this reason, measured values of electromagnetic disturbances generated by devices of the same type are not always identical. Differences between those values may reach up to several dB. This problem also concerns electromagnetic emissions correlated with the processed information, which are very sensitive to electromagnetic infiltration process. Issues related to the problem of protection of electromagnetic environment are shown on the basis of research results obtained for several devices of the same type. Mentioned level differences of electromagnetic emissions can decide about a classification of device from viewpoint of protection of information against electromagnetic penetration process. These differences may be a treat to information security. Higher levels of valuable emissions force an application of additional methods limiting an effectiveness of electromagnetic penetration process. This particularly applies to IT devices with a wide range of applications, e.g., laptops and desktop computers. In this paper, this phenomenon was presented on the basis of tests of several devices of the same type. Also, there were carried out analyses of influence of increase levels of valuable emissions on a security zone radius.

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“…In this case, an increase of levels of measured emission by approximately several dB could enable the possibility of non-invasive acquisition of information (Figure 14) [20,21].…”

Section: Valuable Emissionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of IT Devices Production Quality on the Level of Protection of Processed Information against the Electromagnetic Infiltration Process

Kubiak

2019

Electronics

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“…In the TEMPEST evaluation process, all digital signals transferred from the communication ports of the tested equipment are considered to be compromising signals, such as PS/2 port connector [1], USB (Universal Serial Bus ports or peripherals) [2,3], RJ45 modular connector [4], video signals from VGA (Video Graphics Array), DVI (Digital Visual Interface), HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) and other display ports [5][6][7] or RS232 serial port [8]. Output devices such as printers [9][10][11][12] and video projectors [13] are also being investigated. 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.…”

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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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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“…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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TEMPEST font counteracting a noninvasive acquisition of text data

Cited by 8 publications

References 7 publications

Impact of IT Devices Production Quality on the Level of Protection of Processed Information against the Electromagnetic Infiltration Process

Impact of IT Devices Production Quality on the Level of Protection of Processed Information against the Electromagnetic Infiltration Process

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

Electromagnetic Eavesdropping

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