{"title":"Anomalous activity detection using RF emanations","authors":"Venkatesh Sathyanarayanan , Peter Gerstoft","doi":"10.1016/j.sigpro.2025.110201","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Electronic activity in digital systems unintentionally emits radio frequency (RF) signals called emanations. These emanations compromise data security, which is important for corporate and military establishments. This work focuses on detecting anomalous activity that compromises data security through emanations. An example of such anomalous activity is emanations from damaged peripherals, such as a mouse or keyboard, which can be used to steal digital data. Prior work on emanation detection uses profiling on specific hardware (HW). However, this is not scalable across all types of HW. We propose a HW-agnostic solution for finding anomalous activity using emanations by scanning the signature of harmonics from leakages of clock signals. An algorithm for multi-harmonic pitch estimation is introduced for wireless applications. A preprocessing technique is developed that removes the effect of artifacts. Thorough mathematical derivations demonstrate the algorithm theoretically. In-phase and Quadrature-phase (IQ) data are collected from emanation sources placed in a shielded room from 0.1–1.1 GHz using software-defined radios (SDR). Results are presented for use cases emulating anomalous activity that compromises data security, such as damaged peripherals and unauthorized data copy onto external devices.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49523,"journal":{"name":"Signal Processing","volume":"238 ","pages":"Article 110201"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6000,"publicationDate":"2025-07-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Signal Processing","FirstCategoryId":"5","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0165168425003159","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"ENGINEERING, ELECTRICAL & ELECTRONIC","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Electronic activity in digital systems unintentionally emits radio frequency (RF) signals called emanations. These emanations compromise data security, which is important for corporate and military establishments. This work focuses on detecting anomalous activity that compromises data security through emanations. An example of such anomalous activity is emanations from damaged peripherals, such as a mouse or keyboard, which can be used to steal digital data. Prior work on emanation detection uses profiling on specific hardware (HW). However, this is not scalable across all types of HW. We propose a HW-agnostic solution for finding anomalous activity using emanations by scanning the signature of harmonics from leakages of clock signals. An algorithm for multi-harmonic pitch estimation is introduced for wireless applications. A preprocessing technique is developed that removes the effect of artifacts. Thorough mathematical derivations demonstrate the algorithm theoretically. In-phase and Quadrature-phase (IQ) data are collected from emanation sources placed in a shielded room from 0.1–1.1 GHz using software-defined radios (SDR). Results are presented for use cases emulating anomalous activity that compromises data security, such as damaged peripherals and unauthorized data copy onto external devices.
期刊介绍:
Signal Processing incorporates all aspects of the theory and practice of signal processing. It features original research work, tutorial and review articles, and accounts of practical developments. It is intended for a rapid dissemination of knowledge and experience to engineers and scientists working in the research, development or practical application of signal processing.
Subject areas covered by the journal include: Signal Theory; Stochastic Processes; Detection and Estimation; Spectral Analysis; Filtering; Signal Processing Systems; Software Developments; Image Processing; Pattern Recognition; Optical Signal Processing; Digital Signal Processing; Multi-dimensional Signal Processing; Communication Signal Processing; Biomedical Signal Processing; Geophysical and Astrophysical Signal Processing; Earth Resources Signal Processing; Acoustic and Vibration Signal Processing; Data Processing; Remote Sensing; Signal Processing Technology; Radar Signal Processing; Sonar Signal Processing; Industrial Applications; New Applications.