Veracity’s LINKLOCK Innovation Protects Against Cyber Breaches of IP Surveillance Networks

Samsung Techwin Europe has exclusive rights to an innovation that prevents unauthorised access to IP surveillance networks.

LINKLOCK, which is developed by Veracity, blocks any cable or equipment that has been tampered with or disconnected. Where tampering is detected the device disconnects data and power from the coaxial cable link, thus isolating the affected link.

Veracity believes the product will prove popular among security-critical installations such as at banks where network cabling or video surveillance equipment is located externally and monitors premises out of business hours.

Remote monitoring has been a significant new tool in the security professional’s armoury but if they can access CCTV images and other confidential information while offsite then so too, potentially, can fraudsters and hackers.

External IP cameras require an external network connection, which are vulnerable to malicious tampering. Alternative protections such as a fully-managed network switch or entirely separate network for the surveillance system are not without flaws.

It could, for example, be possible to disconnect an externally-mounted IP camera, access the network via this connection and detect and disable the other cameras and/or the network video recorder itself. If the surveillance network is bridged to, or part of, the main network, it could even be possible for a sophisticated attacker to access or disrupt other systems on that network.

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Available on Veracity’s HIGHWIRE Powerstar range of Ethernet and POE over coax adaptors LINKLOCK can be used with any make, model or type of IP camera.

A secure or encrypted link over the coax alone does not guarantee protection against intrusion as the Ethernet link to the camera would still be open and unsecured. The HIGHWIRE coaxial connection uses a secure, proprietary baseband protocol that is point-to-point only.

POE over coax powers the HIGHWIRE adaptor at the camera end and the camera itself.

Any attempts to access or disconnect the coax or network connections are detected by the LINKLOCK base unit, which immediately disables POE and data. All external equipment is therefore immediately isolated from the internal LAN.

The HIGHWIRE LINKLOCK base unit inside the building must be physically reset by a contact closure switch across screw terminals on the unit itself to return the system to normal operation. Blocking mode cannot be reversed via the external network or coaxial interface.

The IP camera needn’t be PoE powered. A locally powered IP camera will still function when the LINKLOCK blocking mode is triggered, albeit no communication will occur through the coaxial cable.

Should the attacker power the camera externally before their attempted breach, blocking mode will still identify the breach, say Veracity. The Ethernet signal or HIGHWIRE coax signal must still be physically re-connected or accessed to connect a device from a third-party – such as a hacker.