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Indian Journal of Science and Technology

Intrusion detection in optical fiber link: A novel technique

Sudad S. Ahmed

Published Dec 20, 2010• 1 citation
Publisher

Abstract

Because of the complexity of the observation of the eavesdropping process in optical fiber link, a new technique is suggested. A WDM is utilized as a part of optical fiber intrusion detection system. The implemented setup is capable to observe eavesdropping soon. The PC unit supports the system and it offers a suitable tool to observe or detect the leakage information. The minimum detectable attenuation value due to the intrusion is about (0.04 dB) while the optical power leakage is about 0.1 dB. Keywords: Intrusion, optical link, detection, eavesdropping.

DOI
10.17485/ijst/2010/v3i12.7

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Because of the complexity of the observation of the eavesdropping process in optical fiber link, a new technique is suggested. A WDM is utilized as a part of optical fiber intrusion detection system. The implemented setup is capable to observe eavesdropping soon. The PC unit supports the system and it offers a suitable tool to observe or detect the leakage information. The minimum detectable attenuation value due to the intrusion is about (0.04 dB) while the optical power leakage is about 0.1 dB. Keywords: Intrusion, optical link, detection, eavesdropping.
Optical network transfers a huge aggregate traffic,and a good part of this traffic is sensitive and confidential,and thus attractive to malicious attackers in eavesdropping,source mimicking,or denial of service attack.Furthermore,any service interruption due to failures and severe degradations could cause network congestion and/or traffic loss.As a result,it is very important for optical network to deploy fast detection and traffic recovery.This paper principally analyzes optical-fiber wiretapping method and its detection,describes the new quantum wiretapping detection technology,and gives some remarks on the related new technologies.
We describe a layer-1-based intrusion detection system for fiber-optic–based networks. Layer-1-based intrusion detection represents a significant elevation in security as it prohibits an adversary from obtaining information in the first place (no cryptanalysis is possible). We describe the experimental setup of the intrusion detection system, which is based on monitoring the behavior of certain attributes of light both in unperturbed and perturbed optical fiber links. The system was tested with optical fiber links of various lengths and types, under different environmental conditions, and under changes in fiber geometry similar to what is experienced during tapping activity. Comparison of the results for perturbed and unperturbed links has shown that the state of polarization is more sensitive to intrusion activity than the degree of polarization or power of the received light. The testing was conducted in a simulated telecommunication network environment that included both underground and aerial links. The links were monitored for intrusion activity. Attempts to tap the link were easily detected with no apparent degradation in the visual quality of the real-time surveillance video.
With the development of optical fiber communication network eavesdropping technology, its security is facing new challenges in recent years.Some of the optical fiber communication eavesdropping technology cannot be detected with its hidden features, so it is necessary to study optical fiber tapping technology and its defensive measures.This paper summarized the cases in which the international optical fiber communication network had been eavesdropped in recent years, and introduced the intrusion and non-intrusive optical fiber eavesdropping methods.Based on the analysis of the general misunderstanding of optical fiber communication network security, the effective measures to defense fiber eavesdropping are put forward.
Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) is a photonic technology capable to transport over a single fiber more than a Tbit/s aggregate traffic. Currently, WDM is the only deployed method in transcontinental and transoceanic applications. In the optical network, each fiber link consists of segments, each several kilometers long, the connecting points of which are amenable to tapping. When a small amount of optical signal is extracted from a tap, when the signal is properly amplified it can be monitored by unauthorized personnel thus threatening communications and land-security. Since each WDM channel carries traffic from one customer, it is not difficult for the connoisseur to demultiplex a specific channel, isolate a specific payload and break the encrypted datagram. Therefore, in addition to data encryption, high-speed communications security should also rely on securing the optical links. In this paper, we present a WDM link security method that, even if fiber is tapped, constitutes channel monitoring and information decrypting by an eavesdropper or unauthorized personnel virtually impossible. In addition, we describe the circuit building blocks behind the method that makes eavesdropping impossible.
Fiber eavesdropping severely endangers the confidentiality of data transmitted in optical networks. Therefore, it is necessary to explore how to detect and locate fiber eavesdropping in an effective approach. To leverage the advantages of the state of polarization (SOP) in detecting various abnormal events while addressing its challenges in acquiring the SOP of different fiber links, we propose a multi-channel joint SOP estimation scheme to estimate the SOP of different fiber spans. Based on the proposed scheme, we provide a comprehensive solution for fiber eavesdropping location and detection in optical communication systems. In this solution, the estimated SOP and optical performance monitoring (OPM) data are utilized for rapid fiber eavesdropping detection and coarse location at the span level. The effectiveness of the solution is validated by experiments. In the aspect of detection, we achieve the detection of the start or end of fiber eavesdropping, the overlapping of fiber eavesdropping and abnormal events, and other abnormal events. The overall accuracy is 99.77%. In the aspect of location, we can locate the fiber span that has been eavesdropped.
Optical fiber communication was widely believed that an optical network was a good way to prevent hacking through wiretaps which intercept network data. However, fiber optic cable is not particularly secure. Various tapping methods can be used to extract data from fiber optic networks with little or no risk of detection. One of the easiest ways of intruding into a fiber optic communication link is creating a bend on the fiber cable. Even small percentage of the transmitted light acquired with the bending method is enough for recovering the data by the attacker. Though there are some techniques and devices that can track the power and intensity inside the fiber cable, these methods cannot detect an attack exploiting small leakage. Therefore, it is critical to determine a range of radii of curvature for which tapping attacks are not detectable. Though there are some studies to quantify the power loss both theoretically and numerically, as of the authors' knowledge, there has not been any experimental validation of those studies. In this respect, an experimental optical setup and a technique relying on the ADC conversion capability of Arduino UNO to measure power loss resulting from different bending radii are proposed in this paper. A lower limit for radius of curvature for an attack to be undetected is obtained and the estimations in the literature for power loss resulting from fiber bending is validated.