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

Pieterjan De Meulemeester; Luc Bontemps; Bart Scheers; Guy A.E. Vandenbosch

doi:10.1109/ICMCIS.2018.8398727

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

Pieterjan De Meulemeester, Luc Bontemps, Bart Scheers, Guy A.E. Vandenbosch

KU Leuven

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

Abstract

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.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	2018 International Conference on Military Communications and Information Systems, ICMCIS 2018
Publisher	Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
Pages	1-7
Number of pages	7
ISBN (Electronic)	9781538645598
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1109/ICMCIS.2018.8398727
Publication status	Published - 27 Jun 2018
Event	2018 International Conference on Military Communications and Information Systems, ICMCIS 2018 - Warsaw, Poland Duration: 22 May 2018 → 23 May 2018

Publication series

Name	2018 International Conference on Military Communications and Information Systems, ICMCIS 2018

Conference

Conference	2018 International Conference on Military Communications and Information Systems, ICMCIS 2018
Country/Territory	Poland
City	Warsaw
Period	22/05/18 → 23/05/18

Keywords

Auto-correlation
Compromising emanations
Eavesdropping
Far-field emanations
Information emission security
LVDS
Leaked video signals
TEMPEST
VGA

Access to Document

10.1109/ICMCIS.2018.8398727

Cite this

De Meulemeester, P., Bontemps, L., Scheers, B., & Vandenbosch, G. A. E. (2018). Synchronization retrieval and image reconstruction of a video display unit exploiting its compromising emanations. In 2018 International Conference on Military Communications and Information Systems, ICMCIS 2018 (pp. 1-7). (2018 International Conference on Military Communications and Information Systems, ICMCIS 2018). Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.. https://doi.org/10.1109/ICMCIS.2018.8398727

De Meulemeester, Pieterjan ; Bontemps, Luc ; Scheers, Bart et al. / Synchronization retrieval and image reconstruction of a video display unit exploiting its compromising emanations. 2018 International Conference on Military Communications and Information Systems, ICMCIS 2018. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., 2018. pp. 1-7 (2018 International Conference on Military Communications and Information Systems, ICMCIS 2018).

@inproceedings{dee997cfc35b46b6b43c8cd188e0753d,

title = "Synchronization retrieval and image reconstruction of a video display unit exploiting its compromising emanations",

abstract = "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.",

keywords = "Auto-correlation, Compromising emanations, Eavesdropping, Far-field emanations, Information emission security, LVDS, Leaked video signals, TEMPEST, VGA",

author = "{De Meulemeester}, Pieterjan and Luc Bontemps and Bart Scheers and Vandenbosch, {Guy A.E.}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2018 IEEE.; 2018 International Conference on Military Communications and Information Systems, ICMCIS 2018 ; Conference date: 22-05-2018 Through 23-05-2018",

year = "2018",

month = jun,

day = "27",

doi = "10.1109/ICMCIS.2018.8398727",

language = "English",

series = "2018 International Conference on Military Communications and Information Systems, ICMCIS 2018",

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De Meulemeester, P , Bontemps, L , Scheers, B & Vandenbosch, GAE 2018, Synchronization retrieval and image reconstruction of a video display unit exploiting its compromising emanations. in 2018 International Conference on Military Communications and Information Systems, ICMCIS 2018. 2018 International Conference on Military Communications and Information Systems, ICMCIS 2018, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., pp. 1-7, 2018 International Conference on Military Communications and Information Systems, ICMCIS 2018, Warsaw, Poland, 22/05/18. https://doi.org/10.1109/ICMCIS.2018.8398727

Synchronization retrieval and image reconstruction of a video display unit exploiting its compromising emanations. / De Meulemeester, Pieterjan ; Bontemps, Luc ; Scheers, Bart et al.
2018 International Conference on Military Communications and Information Systems, ICMCIS 2018. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., 2018. p. 1-7 (2018 International Conference on Military Communications and Information Systems, ICMCIS 2018).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

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AU - Scheers, Bart

AU - Vandenbosch, Guy A.E.

PY - 2018/6/27

Y1 - 2018/6/27

N2 - 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.

AB - 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.

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KW - Compromising emanations

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KW - Information emission security

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PB - Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.

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Y2 - 22 May 2018 through 23 May 2018

ER -

De Meulemeester P , Bontemps L , Scheers B, Vandenbosch GAE. Synchronization retrieval and image reconstruction of a video display unit exploiting its compromising emanations. In 2018 International Conference on Military Communications and Information Systems, ICMCIS 2018. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc. 2018. p. 1-7. (2018 International Conference on Military Communications and Information Systems, ICMCIS 2018). doi: 10.1109/ICMCIS.2018.8398727

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

Abstract

Publication series

Conference

Keywords

Access to Document

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Fingerprint

Laboratory of Applied Electromagnetism

Cite this

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

Abstract

Publication series

Conference

Keywords

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Equipment

Laboratory of Applied Electromagnetism

Cite this