Current Projects: Developing Novel Approaches to Tamper and Intrusion Detection [Vulnerability Assessment Team (VAT)]

Vulnerability Assessment Team (VAT)

Current Projects

Developing Novel Approaches to Tamper & Intrusion Detection

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20+ New “Anti-Evidence” Seals

The VAT has developed nearly two dozen prototype anti-evidence seals, both mechanical and electronic. Some of the potential advantages of "anti-evidence" seals include:

low cost
better security
no hasp required
no tools to install or remove seal
100% reusable, even if mechanical
the seal can go inside the container
can monitor volumes or areas, not just portals
can automatically verify the seal inspector actually checked the seal (“anti-gundecking”)

Some of Our 20+ New Seals

MagTag - volumetric seal & trap
Glass & Powder Seal - for cargo security
Beads-in-a-Box Seal - volumetric seal
Theodolite Seal - remotely read seal
Plug Seal - for containers with no hasp
Xmucane Seal - high security trap
Time Trap - high security seal (see picture below)
Magic Slate Seal - passive anti-evidence seal
Triboluminescence Seal - for high security
RJ Lock/Seal - protects computer ports
Talking Truck Cargo Seal - for cargo security (see picture below)
DTMF Seal - automatically read seal


Talking Truck Cargo Seal The prototype seal (left) is placed inside the truck (or container) to monitor for unauthorized access, while the handheld unit (right) communicates with the seal from outside using radio frequency communication. (see larger size image)	Time Trap When the container is opened, the time trap erases the secret key used by the hash algorithm, and then the time trap shows the time when the container was opened (elapsed or Greenwich Mean Time) and the 2-letter hash associated with that time (“RF” in the photo). In this photo, the container was opened 3 hours and 12 minutes after tamper monitoring began. (see larger size image)

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

For more information about seals visit the Seals section of this website.

For copies of the VAT papers and presentations on a wide variety of physical security issues (tags, seals, product counterfeiting, vulnerability assessments, RFIDs, GPS, nuclear safeguards):

Contact:
Roger Johnston, Section Manager
National Security and Non-proliferation Department
Vulnerability Assessments Section
Fax: +1 630-252-7323