From: "William H. Geiger III" <whgiii@invweb.net>
Date: Wed, 8 Oct 1997 23:44:36 +0800
To: Jim Choate <ravage@ssz.com>
Subject: Re: Internet Via Electric Lines? (fwd)
In-Reply-To: <199710081234.HAA11747@einstein.ssz.com>
Message-ID: <199710081521.LAA18348@users.invweb.net>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain



-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----

In <199710081234.HAA11747@einstein.ssz.com>, on 10/08/97 
   at 07, Jim Choate <ravage@ssz.com> said:

>Forwarded message:

>> From: "William H. Geiger III" <whgiii@invweb.net>
>> Date: Wed, 08 Oct 97 01:28:42 -0500
>> Subject: Re: Internet Via Electric Lines?

>> This is nothing new.

>At least late 70's.

>> I think it was GE that several years ago created phone extensions that you
>> plugged into your power outlets, no need to run wire to put in an extra
>> outlet. I believe that X-10 uses this same principle for computer control
>> of household appliances.
>> 
>> Not to mention data leakage through power lines is an issue long reconized
>> by the TEMPEST crowd.
>> 
>> The trick here seems to be in routing the data. How do you get data on the
>> power grid routed to the location that you want it to go??

>The trick with X-10 is to stay away from transformers as the signal won't
>go through them effectively. This ends any dreams of sending data to your
>neighbor, the signal won't go through your power meter.

This seems to be a Goodthing(TM) for residential X-10 as it would seem to
take care of a lot of security issues by effectively isolating each home
from others who may be running the same system.

Has anyone researched the security issues around X-10? Is the Transformer
isolation good enough protection from a dedicated attack (as opposed to
accidental signal leakage)? Are their alternative routes for transmitting
the FM signal (Airwaves) that the X-10 devices would pick up?? Do any of
the current X-10 devices use signal authentication/verification?

- -- 
- ---------------------------------------------------------------
William H. Geiger III  http://www.amaranth.com/~whgiii
Geiger Consulting    Cooking With Warp 4.0

Author of E-Secure - PGP Front End for MR/2 Ice
PGP & MR/2 the only way for secure e-mail.
OS/2 PGP 2.6.3a at: http://www.amaranth.com/~whgiii/pgpmr2.html                        
- ---------------------------------------------------------------

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----
Version: 2.6.3a
Charset: cp850
Comment: Registered_User_E-Secure_v1.1b1_ES000000

iQCVAwUBNDumpo9Co1n+aLhhAQGZBAQAo9u4WuKIJ7WfDxaK83X/lwsLpzVDhx+4
lPAlY8ERqBjQwMc8txV+vW9cLl0rHi0Q8YgW+U9vlqlb67re2sjebFqKbQ1c5heZ
WMc+nXNeM5MZ65K/dXKPPGl3RhzMw3syBu37s+KD3v6V2C7XJLudH/AnruYBmXF/
ad0+z1S6q9c=
=oxPQ
-----END PGP SIGNATURE-----