The Anti-Tempest Computer Project

Frequently Asked Questions:

e-mail the webmaster

FYI:

T a b l e o f c o n t e n t s...

1. "What is the purpose of this project?"
2. "What is 'Tempest' / 'Van Eck Phreaking'?"
3. "Is this particular project legal / illegal?"
4. "I want to donate to this project. How do I go about it?"
5. "How on earth did you aquire this fine piece of computer equipment?"
6. "When do you figure this project will be finished?"
7. "Why are you making a BBS? Aren't BBS's are a thing of the past?"
8. "I have an idea for a (tempest) sub-project for you guys. Will you acknowledge it?"
9. "Can I have a shell / e-mail through your tempest?"
10. "Why don't you guys use flash drives for your project? They are relatively inexpensive
and probably better suited for your needs."

"What is the purpose of this project?"

The Anti-Tempest project is a collaborated effort by associates of the Nettwerked.net collective to create a fully functional / operational, "secure" anti-emanation computer using Canadian Government-certified / CSE (Communications Security Establishment) and Ontario Hydro-approved tempest equipment. The main purpose of this project is not to just "build" a computer based on government fabricated hardware, but for our team to get a better grasp of tempest by understanding more than the theoretical information being passed around the Internet. By physically dealing with the technology and learning (by trial and error) effective safe-guarding techniques against electromagetic radiation leakage and all known "Van-eck style" vulnerabilities.

The side project for the Anti-Tempest Computer Project includes operating a telnet-style Bulletin Board System (running Citadel/UX) on the OpenBSD platform. We'll also be involved in Tempest RF-leakage Testing in the weeks before we connect this machine to the Internet. RF-leakage testing will be a open to a small portion of the hacker community in Edmonton, who will be chosen (based on knowledge, tools, trust) at our local Nettwerked Meetings.
It's a known fact: an open door policy that allows others to participate in discovering and helping to "patch" vulnerabilities associated with a complex technology (i.e. operating systems, computer networks, etc.) decreases the probability of embarassing elephantitis of the testicles-sized security holes.

Before you can really call yourself an expert in any field that interests you; be it cars, or telecommunications, you need to have that practical experience.
The Anti-Tempest Computer Project is our key to turning the theoretical into practical and valuable knowledge. We're Nettwerked. Expect nothing less.

"What is 'Tempest' / 'Van Eck Phreaking'?"

Please refer to our Tempest Research Material page for information.

"Is this particular project legal / illegal?"

Good question. According to a document I found on Hack Canada called Eavesdropping On the Electromagnetic Emanations of Digital Equipment: The Laws of Canada, England and the United States "The use of TEMPEST is not illegal under the laws of the United States, or England. Canada has specific laws criminalizing TEMPEST eavesdropping but the laws do more to hinder surveillance countermeasures than to prevent TEMPEST surveillance." So it's illegal to build eavesdropping devices (van eck phreaking), but it isn't illegal to protect against such devices. What we are doing is perfectly, 100% legal.

"I want to donate to this project. How do I go about it?"

To donate to the Anti-Tempest Computer Project, please visit our Paypal donations page. We are taking donations for the purchase of better hardware. 100% of the funds go towards the project. None of the money that is donated is pocketed by the Anti-Tempest team. We are trying to raise money for a new motherboard (AMD Athlon XP, Intel Pentium 3, or higher is preferred) at the moment. Donations are in Canadian Dollars (CDN). Donate anything you can afford.

"How on earth did you aquire this fine piece of computer equipment?"

Originally this machine (with a 386SX processor, and custom-made and well labelled parts) was picked up from Government Surplus Sales in Edmonton Alberta in the mid-1990's by Cyb0rg/asm. After years of dragging this extremely heavy and fairly large computer around, he got sick of it and gave it to The Clone as a present for his 20th birthday in hopes he might have more use for it.

"When do you figure this project will be finished?"

We have an anticipated date for completion of the Anti-Tempest machine; Spring - Summer 2004. You're probably thinking "it isn't hard to complete this project! You just put the computer together and you're done". Wrong. We've been having some bad luck with hardware as of late (see bad motherboards), all of us work full time jobs, go to school, and I only get a chance to meet up a few times a month to work on the computer. Not to mention that we'll need to do EMI testing before we consider this computer "completed". Stay tuned.

"Why are you making a BBS? Aren't BBS's are a thing of the past?"

A Bulletin Board System is a fabulous way for members of the computer underground to commence in gaming activities, file sharing (uploading and downloading of h/p-related text files), and to communicate through the old school live-chats that brought a generation of hackers together in the 80's. BBS's are a thing of the past, true. But good things never die. We intend on helping to open up the wonderful world of bulletin board systems to a new generation. Don't like that? Suck it up, tinkerbell.

"I have an idea for a (tempest) sub-project for you guys. Will you acknowledge it?"

Yes, if the collective (see 'crew') feels the idea is worthwhile. For example; if you e-mail us saying you think we should turn the Anti-Tempest Computer Project into an cult / religion, then that would be a BAD idea. See, it's already a cult and religion, so telling us something we already know is stating the obvious and only begins to waste our precious time. But don't let that discourage you... we're an open minded bunch who enjoy wild and crazy ideas just as long as they sound plausible and are relative to our long-term objectives.

"Can I have a shell / e-mail through your tempest?"

No. Shell accounts and e-mail addresses are for crew members only. So don't bother asking us regularly, because the answer will always be NO.

"Why don't you guys use flash drives for your project? They are relatively inexpensive and probably better suited for your needs."

We have considered using flash drives for the Tempest project, however the price involved with using a flash drive with the amount of hard drive space we require (approximately 5GB's) would cost us a pretty penny. The only way we would consider using a flash drive is if 1. it was donated to us, or 2. the money to purchase a 5GB flash drive was donated to us.