#Tempest definition how to

History ĭuring World War II, Bell Telephone supplied the U.S. Compromising emissions are defined as unintentional intelligence-bearing signals which, if intercepted and analyzed ( side-channel attack), may disclose the information transmitted, received, handled, or otherwise processed by any information-processing equipment. For example, it is possible to log a user's keystrokes using the motion sensor inside smartphones. While much of TEMPEST is about leaking electromagnetic emanations, it also encompasses sounds and mechanical vibrations. īell 131B2 mixer, used to XOR teleprinter signals with one time tapes, was the first device from which classified plain text was extracted using radiated signals. Noise can also protect information by masking the actual data. unclassified materials, filters on cables, and even distance and shielding between wires or equipment and building pipes.

The TEMPEST standards mandate elements such as equipment distance from walls, amount of shielding in buildings and equipment, and distance separating wires carrying classified vs. Protecting equipment from spying is done with distance, shielding, filtering, and masking.

The NSA methods for spying on computer emissions are classified, but some of the protection standards have been released by either the NSA or the Department of Defense. The protection efforts are also known as emission security (EMSEC), which is a subset of communications security (COMSEC).

#Tempest definition how to

TEMPEST covers both methods to spy upon others and how to shield equipment against such spying. National Security Agency specification and a NATO certification referring to spying on information systems through leaking emanations, including unintentional radio or electrical signals, sounds, and vibrations.