Physical security and tamper-indicating devices
Roger G. Johnston, A. R. E. Garcia · University of North Texas Digital Library (University of North Texas) · 1997
Computer systems, electronic communications, digital data, and computer storage media are often highly vulnerable to physical tampering. Tamper-indicating devices, also called security seals, are widely used to detect physical tampering or unauthorized access. We studied 94 different security seals, both passive and electronic, developed either commercially or by the US government. Most of these seals are in wide-spread use, including for critical applications. We learned how to defeat all 94 seals using rapid, inexpensive, low-tech methods. Cost was not a good predictor of seal security. It appears to us that many of these seals can be dramatically improved with minor, low-cost modifications to either the seal or the use protocol.