Compromising Radiated Emission from a Power Line Communication Cable

• Main Authors: Virginie Degardin, Pierre Laly, Martine Lienard, Pierre Degauque
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Croatian Communications and Information Society (CCIS) 2011-03-01
• Series: Journal of Communications Software and Systems
• Subjects: Power line communication; TEMPEST; Transmission line; Interference
• Online Access: https://jcomss.fesb.unist.hr/index.php/jcomss/article/view/183

This contribution presents a preliminary investigation on the possibility of eavesdropping, i.e., of extracting information by exploiting the electromagnetic field radiated in the vicinity of a power line communication (PLC) network. This kind of problem is usually known in the electromagnetic compatibility area under the codename TEMPEST. Electromagnetic field measurements were carried out in a laboratory environment, both inside and outside a building, and the main statistical characteristics of the compromising channel are presented. A software tool simulating a PLC communication has been developed and used to draw apreliminary conclusion on whether the radiated emissions can be exploited or not.