Power Line Firewall for Air-Gapped Data Exfiltration Suppression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Air-gapped computers are vulnerable to data exfiltration through their power supply, as malicious software can modulate electromagnetic emissions to transmit data via power lines, and normal system operations can also induce detectable signals in power conductors.
Innovation Solution
A power line firewall or filter system that cancels or alters electrical signals induced on power supply conductors and earthing grounds, preventing data exfiltration by reshaping fundamental current and voltage waveforms and diminishing non-fundamental frequency waveforms to undetectable levels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If air-gapped systems are used to isolate devices from networks, then network security is improved, but data exfiltration through power supply becomes a vulnerability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a power line firewall as an intermediary device between the air-gapped system and the power supply infrastructure. This firewall monitors and filters electromagnetic emissions on power lines, blocking data exfiltration attempts while allowing legitimate power transmission. The intermediary captures signals on the power lines, analyzes them for data content, and prevents malicious signal transmission without compromising the air-gap's physical isolation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the power line firewall continuously monitors electromagnetic emissions from the air-gapped system, detects modulated signals indicating data exfiltration, and responds by blocking or filtering these signals. The feedback loop enables real-time detection and prevention of conducted emissions, maintaining security while allowing normal power operation.
2Reliability
If power line filtering is applied to prevent data transmission, then security is improved, but normal power transmission may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The power line firewall applies filtering selectively to specific frequency ranges where data exfiltration signals are embedded, rather than blocking all electromagnetic transmissions. By targeting only the narrow bandwidth used for malicious signal modulation while allowing the broader power transmission spectrum to pass unchanged, the system maintains power efficiency while achieving security.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of electromagnetic signal frequency by identifying and blocking specific frequency modulations used for data exfiltration while permitting the fundamental power transmission frequencies to pass. This selective parameter-based filtering ensures that security measures do not interfere with normal power delivery operations.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Effectively prevents the transmission of data or information signals from IT devices over power conductors, thereby enhancing the security of air-gapped systems by eliminating detectable signals that could be exploited for data exfiltration.
Implementation Method 1
manipulation and cancelling of electrical waveforms found on power conductors and earthing grounds
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosed embodiments relate to method and/or device which is effective at cancelling or altering electrical signals or pulses, generated by, for example, digital electronic systems and components, that are induced, reflected or otherwise made present on the mains power supply conductors and/or the earthing or grounding conductor (if present.) The disclosed embodiments cancel these electrical signals thereby providing an effective means of preventing the exfiltration of various data from a computing or similar system by means of power line emissions. The disclosed embodiments may perform this subjugation by: altering the shape of the fundamental current and voltage waveforms and also altering and diminishing any non-fundamental frequency waveforms to a point where they are no longer measurable or detectable; and preventing the communication via inductive coupling of any electrical signals on mains current onto the grounding path or vice versa.