TEMPEST

TEMPEST is a U.S. government code word for a once-classified set of standards for limiting electric or electromagnetic radiation emanations from electronic equipment such as microchips[?], monitors, or printers. It is a counter-intelligence measure aimed at the prevention of electronic espionage.

The key concept of TEMPEST is "red-black separation", i.e. maintaining distance between equipment used to handle classified or sensitive information (red) and normal unsecured equipment (black).

Basic TEMPEST standards have not been classified since 1995 and today the United States Army acknowledges its TEMPEST testing facility, the U.S. Army Information Systems Engineering Command, at Fort Huachuca, Arizona[?]. The TEMPEST standard NSTISSAM TEMPEST/1-92 is publicly available.

See also: computer surveillance, computer insecurity, Echelon

External Links

• Official NSA TEMPEST INFOSEC page (http://www.nsa.gov/isso/bao/tep.htm)
• The Complete, Unofficial Tempest Information Page (http://www.eskimo.com/~joelm/tempest)