Are undersea cables tapped before they get to ISP's? [was Re: Security over SONET/SDH]

Tue Jun 25 14:58:28 UTC 2013

On Jun 25, 2013, at 9:53 PM, Måns Nilsson wrote:

> IVY BELLS (USN is / was an ALL-CAPS org, right?) was a copper era project, and it did use EMI tapping (TEMPEST) to get to the traffic
> without tampering with the cable.

Fiber can be tapped, too, though it's not as easy as EMI.  Heck, it can even be potentially 'pre-tapped' prior to deployment.

> Having gotten that cleared, I'd argue that if you're on speaking terms with the cable operator, it is much easier to use a full-spectrum monitor port on the WDM system.

The issue is that the cable operator may be on speaking terms with reporters at the Guardian.

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Roland Dobbins <rdobbins at arbor.net> // <http://www.arbornetworks.com>

	  Luck is the residue of opportunity and design.

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