How to SafeGuard against EMP/High Frequency Attacks, Forced System Reset... - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: ParmeetGhai
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: March 28, 2025, 05:43:28 am
content: How to SafeGuard against EMP/High Frequency Attacks, Forced System Reset and Force System FailureIMPORTANT: I cannot use a microcontroller because of my living conditions whatever electronic that I own which contain firmware/software is vulnerable to re-programming attacks hence I can only work with hardware. no firmware/software.I have the following circuit designed for a automated lock application.Can anyone think of conditions where the system can be compromised causing a power P-channel MOSFET to conduct and have a high power solenoid activated and also safe guards against EMP attacks, high frequency attacks, forced system resets and force system failure?Any help will be greatly appreciated.Note that the timing delay does not require precision. The circuit will be enclosed in stainless steel container hence offering some shielding. cannot use any micro controllers. Due to my living conditions any electronic gadget with software/firmware is vulnerable to re-programming/hacking hence only hardware can be used.What is needed from the circuit is the following:1) Manual trigger to activate the system otherwise the system remains idle.2) A delay of >40 seconds after the system is activated.3) After the delay is over then system activating a gate driver for a P-channel MOSFET.4) P-channel MOSFET activates a high power solenoid for a lock and then gets disabled.5) The initial trigger should never happen by itself unless manually triggered like in step 1.6) Later an Alarm signal will trigger the power mosfet against7) A override OFF signal then turns off the mosfetBesides the solenoid, a stepper motor is also activated which is connected to a Scotch Yoke. it rotates in only one direction. which is why there is a need to turn on and off the mosfet twice. at 180 degree, it will activate the lock. at 360 degree it will unlock the lock.The circuit should withstand:1) Whole system resets.2) Whole system failure.3) High frequency/EMP attacks.Preferred condition under such scenarios is that the P-channel MOSFET remains OFF thus preventing the lock from opening under default/reset/error conditions.Typical use case:1) After manual activation a delay of >40 seconds.2) After the delay is over then gate driver activates P-channel MOSFET activating a high power solenoid lock.3) The initial trigger turns off via optocoupler turning off the MOSFET.4) The initial trigger never turns on unless its manually activated like in step 1.5) A alarm activates the gate driver turning on the MOSFET.6) The alarm is turned off via optocoupler which turns off the MOSFET.First design:It only used a Latch for initial trigger and a capacitor at the base of a NPN driver for delay. Some other design flaw made me consider the effects of a system reset and it turns out that the latch would trigger on by default under reset hence its omitted.Second design:The second design involved a 555 timer and a CD4017 (LTspice simulation attached). Everything works great except at system reset, the clock output from 555 shows a jitter which if not handled with a 1 µF capacitor leads to the system being triggered by default at system reset. If capacitor goes bad in case of a EMP attack then system is compromised hence this design was scrapped too.Third/final design:This one uses a 555 timer as well and a 74HC164 SIPO shift register replacing CD4017 and TC4429 as gate driver instead of a NPN (2N2222). the 74HC164 has a strong pull down at the input A and B thus requiring at least 9 V to be triggered and TC4429 has a built in Schmitt trigger which prevents noise and jitters. PS:I have used LTC1693-5 from analog.com as replacement for TC4429 because the model was giving out too much of a problem.I have datasheets, LTspice schematics, LTspice libraries and symbols and screenshots of those schematics attached for reference here:https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ofFWJBdjE9LCo8oUX_3OSIO0NtePBSTD?usp=sharing

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 28, 2025, 06:17:25 am
content: lazy thieves that go around sparking things are not gonna reprogram your system, and the hard working one will defeat your system with a chisel (15 minutes for a door)

author: Andy Chee
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 28, 2025, 06:47:03 am
content: Quote from: ParmeetGhai on March 28, 2025, 05:43:28 amThe most important part of security is not the lock.... it's the rest of the door and building.For a simple example, this lock was easily defeated by going around.In other words, please upload your plans for lock installation. The electronic circuit is NOT important.

author: PGPG
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 28, 2025, 10:15:24 am
content: There is practically no idea to use optocoupler when its input and output are at the same potentials.At all wires going in/out of PCB you should use Surge protection.The only protection against EMP I can imagine are shielding, shielding and once more shielding and as many ferryte kg used as possible.Quote from: ParmeetGhai on March 28, 2025, 05:43:28 amI was surprised discovering that stainless steel is not a good conductor (I don't know if all kinds of it) so it probably gives practically no shielding.

author: SteveThackery
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 28, 2025, 01:50:22 pm
content: Tin plated steel works well: magnetic and electric shielding.

author: ParmeetGhai
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: March 29, 2025, 06:03:04 am
content: Thank you for replying back to me. let me explain how this works. The circuit itself, a stepper motor and a solenoid along with a steel lock will be placed inside a steel container. the circuit requires a manual trigger. after that it gives a delay of 40 seconds which allows me close the lid on top. the circuit then closes the lock using the stepper motor (scotch yoke) . the circuit will then get triggered again by an alarm clock(mechanical) which will cause the lock to open again.basically I am avoiding any mechanical keys, password which are on me and which can be accessed by someone else when I am asleep. I was just worried that someone might then just drill a hole and use some high voltage / high frequency probe to cause the circuit to fail and open the lock like how a magnetized door with a solenoid would fail if the solenoid is subjected to EMP that will cause the solenoid to break but it might not be possible for an average joe but may be for the police or military it is.luckily I dont have any beef with either one of them . LOLI will go ahead with my implementation and then post detailed workings of the lock later on.cheers

author: Gyro
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 29, 2025, 08:14:33 pm
content: If you're worried to the extent of using a mechanical alarm clock, I would avoid using active circuitry completely - for instance, you have designed in the perfect RF rectifier / charge pump (D1 / C5) to turn on MOSFET M1 and trigger the solenoid if somebody drills a hole and injects significant RF as you suggested. That's just the final 3 components in the schematic output stage, I haven't studied the schematic in detail but I'm sure there must be more weaknesses.I would go electromechanical, for instance a DC motor rather than stepper and big capacitor/relay delay etc.