(by Roberta Preziosa) The recent advances made in the field of radio interceptions are pushing the intelligence agencies of many countries to identify new methods of (tempest) shielding of electronic equipment.
The Israeli research centers (Ben Gurion University) have discovered that the "air gap" and the old generation shielding systems are not able to block the low frequency magnetic fields produced by computers or generable outside.
In other words, the tempest system based on the Faraday cage principle is no longer sufficient for electronic shielding.
Through the combination of "Air gap" present and generable magnetic threats, it is possible to extract sensitive data from computers and smartphones.
Many companies and industries no longer allow the use / access of smartphones in sensitive areas.
Smartphones can be hacked with ease, the microphone, the camera of mobile phones can immediately become the eyes and ears of hackers.
Smartphones can not be introduced into sensitive areas and must be kept in secure areas. These typical military measures have now been implemented by industries, businessmen and diplomats.
As well as having adequate shielding levels, the cellphone security container must be equipped with a special sound emitter to prevent environmental interception.
Even computers disconnected from the Internet (stand-alone) can be hacked by electromagnetic intrusions (low-frequency magnetic fields).
The critical moment is represented by the data transfer to the computer with the USB stick.
The driver, when external to the computer, seems, at the moment, the form of protection to be preferred.
The Tempest system will therefore be updated by identifying effective countermeasures against these low frequency magnetic fields.