Adrian Crenshaw Naughty by Nuke With apologies to
Adrian Crenshaw Naughty by Nuke! (With apologies to Naughty by Nature) http: //Irongeek. com
About Adrian I run Irongeek. com I have an interest in Info. Sec education I don’t know everything - I’m just a geek with time on my hands I’m an (Ir)regular on the Info. Sec Daily Podcast: http: //isdpodcast. com Sr. Information Security Engineer at a Fortune 1000 Co-Founder of Derbycon http: //www. derbycon. com/ http: //Irongeek. com Twitter: @Irongeek_ADC
What is EMP? EMP = Electromagnetic Pulse A powerful burst of radio waves cause by quickly changing electromagnetic fields Has the effect of inducing currents into conductors and can “burn” them up or cause interference Early British term was “Radioflash” http: //Irongeek. com
Why this subject? I don’t consider myself a prepper or survivalist (but I did collect a lot of Paladin Press books as a kid) I like the smell of fried electronics (as long as they ain’t mine) Lots of scare monger videos, justified or not, but little with the science behind EMP It fit theme! http: //Irongeek. com
EMP: Entertaining Misinformed People Signal to Noise is high on this subject Many people will speak authoritatively, but not know the actual fact Tried searching for site: mil and site: gov Limited practical testing seems to have been done Radio Waves do weird things… When/where was the testing done? Audience Some stuff is classified Some stuff aims toward the non technical I’m not an expert either, so take all this with a huge grain of salt http: //Irongeek. com
Examples ? ? ? http: //Irongeek. com
Spark Gap? Ever run a vacuum/electric motor while watching an analog TV? Sparks cause a broad band of radio waves to propagate, which can cause interference. http: //Irongeek. com
Inducing current Changing magnetic fields cause current in a conductor Current in a conductor cause a magnetic field - + http: //Irongeek. com
Near-Field and Far-Fields Distance? 1/(d^3) vs. 1/(d^2) Image from http: //en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Near_and_far_field http: //Irongeek. com
Self Propagating EM Wave Image from http: //en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Electromagnetic_radiation http: //Irongeek. com
Bit Of History Apparently EMP was expected by Enrico Fermi, and equipment during the Trinity test (July 16, 1945) Hi Guys!!! was shielded in anticipation of it Apparently some recording were lost due to “spurious pickup” Greater interest came about after Starfish Prime http: //Irongeek. com
Starfish Prime High altitude test of a nuclear weapon on July 9, 1962 1. 4 megaton W 49 thermonuclear warhead detonated 250 mi (400 km) above a point about 19 miles southwest of Johnston Island in the Pacific Ocean EMP effect was greater than anticipated http: //Irongeek. com
Starfish Prime EMP Effects Drove instruments off the scale, presumably as expectations of the effect was lower Damaged electrical systems 898 miles away in Hawaii 300 street lights blown Telephone microwave link damaged Set off burglar alarms Further tests in the “Operation Fishbowl” series gave more data on EMP’s effects http: //Irongeek. com
EMP: Multiple Pulse in Three Parts E 1 – Very short, powerful burst that induce high currents in conductors. E 2 – Comes shortly after E 1. Somewhat akin to the EM effects of a lightning strike. Many systems may already be prepared, but precursor damage from E 1 may soften them up. E 3 – Longer, slower pulse that can last many seconds caused by the Earth’s magnetic field being pushed out of the way. Can induce current in long conductors and cause damage to power systems. http: //Irongeek. com
Volts per Meter – V/m – Voltage across a one Meter conductor as the magnetic field sweeps across it. EMP: 100, 000 V/m Ground Burst Radar: 200 V/m Radio Communications: 10 V/m Metropolitan Noise: 0. 1 V/m Ball park figures from http: //www. lrc. fema. gov/downloads/attack_env_4. pdf http: //Irongeek. com
Range from Ground Zero for Surface Burst If you are too close, you are already having a bad day! Image source http: //www. lrc. fema. gov/downloads/attack_env_4. pdf http: //Irongeek. com
Burst location Surface/Near Surface Burst – Ground level EMP is an issue, but other effects may take precedence Geography limits area Air density limit range High Altitude – above 30 km 20 km to 40 km is where we get the Compton effect Can hit a larger area Saturation at about 50, 000 V/m 500 km burst could cover continental United State Air Burst - 100 -1000 m, maybe below 30 km? Not as interesting for EMP* * http: //www. fas. org/nuke/intro/nuke/emp/c-2 fig. pdf http: //www. lrc. fema. gov/downloads/attack_env_4. pdf http: //Irongeek. com
More Acronym (and Electron) Soup SREMP = Source Region EMP (low/surface burst) HEMP = High-altitude EMP MHD-EMP = Magnetohydrodynamic EMP Caused by shifting of Earth’s magnetic field SGEMP = System Generated EMP Caused by Gamma/X-Rays hitting the outside of a satellite/space craft NNEP = Non-Nuclear EMP http: //Irongeek. com
+ Ground Burst Outward Radiating EMP Net Electron Current Ground absorbs some Gamma http: //Irongeek. com + . Current Return Path Through Ground
Airburst Gamma Rays Cause “Compton Scattering”, Knocking Electrons Out Of Molecules In The Air, Causing A Charge Seperation http: //Irongeek. com Net Electron Current Caused By Atmospheric Density Gradient Leading To Weak Vertical Dipole
Chain of events E 1/E 2: HEMP Gamma Rays caused by detonation Gamma Rays knock Electrons out of air molecules (Compton Effect) at about 20 to 40 km altitude in a mostly down direction Electrons direction effect by Earth’s magnetic field, now we have EMP P M E E M P Gamma ray diffusion and other effects cause delayed E 2 E M P http: //Irongeek. com
Chain of Events E 3 Earth’s magnetic field just sitting there, minding it’s own business Detonation happens “Fireball” affects magnetic permeability, causing changes in Earth’s magnetic field http: //Irongeek. com
Spectrum Lots of interference Image source http: //www. lrc. fema. gov/downloads/attack_env_4. pdf http: //Irongeek. com
Earth’s Magnetic Lines Latitude and Altitude make a big difference Image from Wikipedia/Figure 2. 143 from page 76 of the book, "The Effects of Nuclear Weapons" by Samuel Glasstone and Phillip J. Dolan. 1977 edition published by the United States Department of Defense. {{PD-USGov}} Used to illustrate the concept of magnetic conjugate regions http: //Irongeek. com
EMP Production Factors Altitude Yield and Construction Distance from detonation Geography Magnetic Field Strength http: //Irongeek. com
Prompt Gamma Yield More Important Than Total Yield 0. 115– 0. 5% of nuke’s energy is Prompt Gamma Yield Starfish Prime was 1. 4 MT, but 0. 1% PGY, so 1. 4 Kt for EMP effect 500 Kt Nuke optimized for 0. 5% PGY would give 2. 5 Kt for EMP effect Pre-ionization in thermonuclear bombs may cause less EMP effects to take place than more primitive fission weapons Image from http: //en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Electromagnetic_pulse http: //Irongeek. com
EMP Horseshoe Effect Image from http: //en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Electromagnetic_pulse http: //Irongeek. com
Entry Points Direct – in through the holes Induced Antennas Satellite Dishes Power Lines Network Cables Telephone Wire Other Cables Plumbing http: //Irongeek. com
Damage Types Functional Damage – Over load, hit break down voltage, heat up and fry! Blue smoke is gone, it’s dead Jim! Operational Damage – Circuit upset for transient current. Circuit breaker blown, or circuit logic disturbed. Pulled from http: //www. lrc. fema. gov/downloads/attack_env_4. pdf http: //Irongeek. com
Super EMP Nuke Can you optimize a nuclear bomb to have more of an EMP effect? Reduce ionization from heat Make case and explosive gamma transparent Produce as much gamma as quick as possible http: //Irongeek. com
Non Nuclear EMP (NNEMP) What about just the EMP, without the other nasty nuke effects? Effect electrical systems, but not buildings/roads “Force Multiplier” from loss of enemy communications Less (immediate) deaths = less political ramifications? http: //Irongeek. com
Marx Generator Charge capacitors in parallel, discharge in series ATLAS-I/ The Sandia Trestle http: //Irongeek. com Images from http: //en. wikipedia. org/ Marx Generator
Explosively Pumped Flux Compression Generator EPFCG uses a magnetic field with conventional explosives (many configurations) Below is a “Helical generator” Armature High Explosive Capacitor + - http: //Irongeek. com Coil
High-Energy Radio Frequency weapons (HERF) Ever put a CD in the Microwave? Can fry/disrupt equipment Can effect humans in negative ways Some people make homemade versions from old Microwave oven’s magnetron, wave guide, and other parts http: //Irongeek. com Active Denial System Image from Wikipedia
The Vircator VIRtual CAthode oscilla. TOR Image from http: //www. airpower. maxwell. af. mil/airchronicles/cc/apjemp. html http: //Irongeek. com
Geomagnetic Storm Tied with “space weather” like sunspot and solar flares and Coronal mass ejection Messes with Earth’s magnetic field More akin to the effect of E 3 Largest recorded was September 1 – 2, 1859, really screwing with the telegraph system March 1989 Geomagnetic Storm had its way with Hydro-Québec's power grid http: //Irongeek. com
Type of Tech Things can be unpredictable Solid State, fall down go boom, let magic blue smoke out (maybe) Thermionic technology (Vacuum Tubes) more resilient but not perfect. Also, try building a modern computer from them. There also power concerns. Fiber optic: No conduct mean no fry Shorter conductors are better http: //Irongeek. com
Fry Chart Image source http: //www. lrc. fema. gov/downloads/attack_env_4. pdf http: //Irongeek. com
Surge Protection Metal Oxide Varistor (MOV) Is it fast enough? E 1 peaks at ~5 ns Fuse Can signal propagate other ways? Electromagnetic arresting devices? MOV MOV EAD Image based on one from http: //www. airpower. maxwell. af. mil/airchronicles/cc/apjemp. html http: //Irongeek. com
Power Sources I’m soooo in need of better test data Tradition Fossil Fuel Generators Hydro Electric SCADA Systems Transformers Solar Wind Voltage regulation circuits? Charging components? http: //Irongeek. com
Shielding Faraday Cage Fiber Optic Cable Preferred What about power lines in? XX Water? Any holes? Propagation direction Grounded? For slow moving magnetic fields (<100 k. Hz) look into Permalloy or Mu-metal http: //Irongeek. com Earth Ground Metal Shell Insulator
Hypothetical computer room • • Seal those holes! Mesh of size to stop microwaves Fiber optic in Doubles as Tempest shield Image from http: //www. airpower. maxwell. af. mil/airchronicles/cc/apjemp. html http: //Irongeek. com
Improvised Faraday Cage? Microwave File Cabinets Trashcans Ammo Boxes Metal Mailbox Foil Wrapped Containers? Anti-Static Bag? Mesh with holes less than 1/10 diameter of wavelength to be blocked (NSWAG) http: //Irongeek. com
EMP Tips and Guidance Unplug gear Disconnect antennas Have spares Use voltage clipping devices Avoid large conductor loops Shielded conduit and cables Bury lines (though I have heard mixed opinions) http: //Irongeek. com
Resources EMP Commission Report (April 2008) http: //www. empcommission. org/reports. php The Effects of Nuclear Weapons Chapter 11 (Compiled and edited by Samuel Glasstone and Philip J. Dolan) http: //www. fourmilab. ch/etexts/www/effects/eonw_11. pdf FEMA 128 -Attack Environment Manual-Chapter 4 http: //www. lrc. fema. gov/downloads/attack_env_4. pdf Wikipedia EMP Article http: //en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Electromagnetic_pulse Electromagnetic Pulse Threats in 2010 by Colin R. Miller, Major, USAF http: //www. au. af. mil/au/awcgate/cst/bugs_ch 12. pdf The Electromagnetic Bomb - a Weapon of Electrical Mass Destruction Carlo Kopp http: //www. airpower. maxwell. af. mil/airchronicles/cc/apjemp. html The Early-Time (E 1) High-Altitude Electromagnetic Pulse (HEMP) and Its Impact on the U. S. Power Grid by Edward Savage, James Gilbert, and William Radasky http: //www. ornl. gov/sci/ees/etsd/pes/pubs/ferc_Meta-R-320. pdf Future Science EMP Page http: //www. futurescience. com/emp. html http: //Irongeek. com
Thanks Conference organizers for having me By buddies from Derbycon and the ISDPodcast Open Icon Library for some of my images http: //openiconlibrary. sourceforge. net http: //Irongeek. com
Events Derbycon ? ? ? Derbycon Art Credits to Digi. P Photo Credits to KC (devauto) http: //www. derbycon. com Others http: //www. louisvilleinfosec. com http: //skydogcon. com http: //hack 3 rcon. org http: //Irongeek. com http: //outerz 0 ne. org http: //phreaknic. info http: //notacon. org
QUESTIONS? 42 Twitter: @Irongeek_ADC http: //Irongeek. com
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