Eavesdropping a Optical Fiber transmission line

[rat_race]

Eavesdropping fiber ..?

Has anyone heard of eavesdropping a Optical Fiber transmission line..?
I've heard that some military associations are capable of it..?
Is it ever Possible..? if so will someone give me further information..?

 

[zharaa]

Re: Eavesdropping fiber ..?

hi rat_race
as far as i know that fiber is immune to electronic eavesdropping. but regarding that the military have done it, i think that every thing is possible nowadays .
regards

 

[jjohn]

Eavesdropping fiber ..?

What is eavesdropping a Optical Fiber transmission line ?

 

[flatulent]

Re: Eavesdropping fiber ..?

If a fiber is bent some of the photons go outside. I suspect that if this is done near the source end of the line, enough photons go to the outside that they can be decoded.

 

[Sceadwian]

Eavesdropping fiber ..?

Electronic tapping of a fiber line of course is impossible, it's not an electronic medium... Tapping fiber isn't all that difficult, all you need is access to the line at some point, since most fiber lines are long haul it would be trivial for a covert group to cut a line and splice in a tap.

 

[jjohn]

Eavesdropping fiber ..?

Another method called Digital Cross Connect .. However this is done softwarewise tapping of fibers

 

[azn_oohwee]

Re: Eavesdropping fiber ..?

Electronic tapping of a fiber line of course is impossible, it's not an electronic medium... Tapping fiber isn't all that difficult, all you need is access to the line at some point, since most fiber lines are long haul it would be trivial for a covert group to cut a line and splice in a tap.

I don't think this is impossible, though it would be extremely difficult to do without anyone knowing. The best way to install a tap on fiber would probably be when the fiber is being replaced or installed for the first time. A method of attack would be to strip the coating, and drill a hole in the cladding right up against the fiber. Then putting in a photo diode that is covered with some specialized silvery agent (like a two-way mirror) that reflects most of the light but allows some to get through to be detected. I've never heard of anyone doing it, but well I'm sure the military can.