Argonne National Laboratory
Nuclear Engineering Division
Think, explore, discover, innovate
U.S. Department of Energy

Vulnerability Assessment Team (VAT)

Seals

Common Myths

The following statements are NOT true. Contact the VAT if you don't know why.

  1. There is such thing as a "tamper-proof" seal. 
    FALSE
  2. Only experts can easily defeat a seal.
    FALSE
  3. Since all seals can be defeated, seals have no value in providing security.
    FALSE
  4. A vulnerability assessment of an effective seal or tamper detection program should find no problems.
    FALSE
  5. The best seals can withstand thousands of pounds of force.
    FALSE
  6. High-tech seals are harder to defeat than low-tech seals.
    FALSE
  7. High-tech seals and/or seals that have electronic readers don't require manual inspection.
    FALSE
  8. The more expensive a seal, the better security it provides.
    FALSE
  9. The only important issues in choosing a seal are its unit cost and whether it has been "certified" or "tested."
    FALSE
  10. A good seal requires little effort or training to use. 
    FALSE
  11. A seal that is good for one application is good for another. 
    FALSE

PerseusUsing low-tech techniques (a mirror and a sword) Perseus defeated the supposedly invulnerable Medusa. If Medusa had done a proper vulnerability assessment, she might not have lost her head.

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

VAT Resources

VAT PAPERS

For a selection of VAT papers available upon request, see Publications.

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 at  

FEATURED MAXIM...

Physical Security Maxims

Contact Info

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

Jon Warner
National Security and Non-proliferation Dept.
Vulnerability Assessments Section
Fax:  +1 630-252-7323

Argonne Experts

Roger G. Johnston is one of the Experts featured in the Argonne Experts Guide.


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Last modified on September 17, 2009 15:21 +0200