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Article #4744Re: Fiber optic security
From: Mark R Poulson
Date: Thu, 31 May 1990 18:30
Date: Thu, 31 May 1990 18:30
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Someone inquired about protecting a device by running a fiber w/signal through the device -- you'd have to cut the fiber to take the device. It IS possible to tap into a fiber cable. By bending it sharply, some light can escape out of the cable (if you scrape off the insulation). This could conceivably be received by a black box and reinjected into the cable at some other point. This would allow the "security" fiber to be cut. How easy this is to do I don't know. I've never seen devices to do this, but they may exist. It is certainly more difficult than a copper wire though. Around here, any fiber carrying classified data that is not encrypted must be run through a pressurized metal conduit. If the pressure disappears (as it would if you cut into it to get to the fiber) alarms go off. Perhaps this would be a solution for you if you use some flexible tubing and a pressure switch. Mark
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Path: arc1-ca.pugleaf.net!utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!mailrus!cornell!uw-beaver!ssc-vax!simnet From: simnet@ssc-vax.UUCP (Mark R Poulson) Newsgroups: sci.electronics Subject: Re: Fiber optic security Summary: not perfect Message-ID: <1475@ssc-bee.ssc-vax.UUCP> Date: 31 May 90 18:30:13 GMT Organization: Boeing Aerospace & Electronics, Seattle WA Lines: 19