Signal Intelligence Fiber Optic Wire tapping By: Mark Jensen

What is Fiber Optics? -Fiber optics is a method of information transmission from one point to another in the form of light. -Fiber optics is a method of information transmission from one point to another in the form of light. -Unlike copper or other forms of transmission, fiber optics is dielectric -Unlike copper or other forms of transmission, fiber optics is dielectric

How does it work? -There are three main parts to a fiber optic system. -There are three main parts to a fiber optic system. - The transmitting device generates the light, optical fiber cable carries the light, and the receiver accepts the light signal transmitted. The transmitting devices turn electrical signals into light and the receiver turns light signals back into electrical signals. - The transmitting device generates the light, optical fiber cable carries the light, and the receiver accepts the light signal transmitted. The transmitting devices turn electrical signals into light and the receiver turns light signals back into electrical signals.

Security Fiber optics for a long time viewed as impossible to tap. Fiber optics for a long time viewed as impossible to tap. Signal detection Signal detection Only done on location. Only done on location. Impossible to do remotely. Impossible to do remotely.

Attenuation loss of optical power as light travels down a fiber loss of optical power as light travels down a fiber Intrinsic Intrinsic occurs do to something inside the fiber occurs do to something inside the fiber causes scattering and absorbsion causes scattering and absorbsion Extrinsic Extrinsic caused by either macrobending or microbending of the fibers caused by either macrobending or microbending of the fibers causes a reduction of power causes a reduction of power

Modes When light enters the fiber it travels in a stable state called a mode When light enters the fiber it travels in a stable state called a mode Singlemode Singlemode Single mode allows only one mode of light to travel through a fiber Single mode allows only one mode of light to travel through a fiber Multi Mode Multi Mode Multimode allows for up to hundreds of modes of light to travel through a fiber at one time Multimode allows for up to hundreds of modes of light to travel through a fiber at one time

Methods of wire tapping Splicing Splicing Physically cutting the wire and inserting equipment to read the transmission Physically cutting the wire and inserting equipment to read the transmission Easy to detect do to interruption of data flow Easy to detect do to interruption of data flow Splitters and Couplers Splitters and Couplers Requires no cutting of the wire Requires no cutting of the wire Bending wire allows photons to escape and be captured Bending wire allows photons to escape and be captured Undetectable and more practical then splicing Undetectable and more practical then splicing

Methods of wire tapping (contd) Non-touchable methods Non-touchable methods No current public device available that can remotely access fiber optic cable. No current public device available that can remotely access fiber optic cable. There is a patent showing how a device such as this can be made, but none are commercially produced yet There is a patent showing how a device such as this can be made, but none are commercially produced yet

Prevention, protection, detection Radio Frequency Testing Systems (RFTS) Radio Frequency Testing Systems (RFTS) scan multiple dark fibers for route integrity prior to the fibers being lit scan multiple dark fibers for route integrity prior to the fibers being lit Once the fiber is lit this method of protection is obsolete Once the fiber is lit this method of protection is obsolete Intrusion Detection Systems Intrusion Detection Systems Data Layer or Physical layer Data Layer or Physical layer Ones most common to you and the public are Data Layer IDS and provide no protection at Physical layer. Ones most common to you and the public are Data Layer IDS and provide no protection at Physical layer. Physical IDS detects tapping but can’t prevent it Physical IDS detects tapping but can’t prevent it

Prevention, protection, detection (contd) Encryption Encryption Encryption is the last method of security. In case of a tap, transmission can continue while tapping problem is taken care of because data is encrypted Encryption is the last method of security. In case of a tap, transmission can continue while tapping problem is taken care of because data is encrypted Problem lies in encryption is secure only for a matter of time Problem lies in encryption is secure only for a matter of time Once encryption broken, data no longer secure Once encryption broken, data no longer secure

Commercial Vs. Government protection Commercial protection is limited if any Commercial protection is limited if any Government uses all 3 methods discussed above. Government uses all 3 methods discussed above.

How does government do wire taps? Reported that NSA has AT&T, MCI, and Sprint cooperation in a “terrorist surveillance program” Reported that NSA has AT&T, MCI, and Sprint cooperation in a “terrorist surveillance program” Allows access to major points in fiber optic infrastructure Allows access to major points in fiber optic infrastructure Makes wire tapping much easier for NSA Makes wire tapping much easier for NSA Is this ethical? Is this ethical? Current administration says its legal Current administration says its legal What do you think? What do you think?

Q & A