Synchronization retrieval and image reconstruction of a video display unit exploiting its compromising emanations

Information processing equipment (IPE) inevitably leaks emissions into the far- and near-field. Most of these leaked emanations originate from logical processes of the IPE itself. Hence by capturing these emanations, sensitive information can be passively obtained without needing physical access to the device. In this research paper, a method is proposed in which the eavesdropping system reconstructs the target display without any prior-knowledge of the system itself. This is realized by retrieving the synchronization information of the IPE using auto-correlation techniques. The method is applicable to both digital and analog based IPE and keeps the portability and cost of the eavesdropping device in mind. Considering that far-field leakages are more practical to pick up than near-field leakages, this paper will only focus on the far-field emanations that originate from the IPE. The emanations of three IPE, a monitor, a laptop and a portable measurement tablet, are tested and analysed for image reconstruction.