ISSN: 0090-3973
Page Count: 5

Effective Vulnerability Assessment of Tamper-Indicating Seals

Johnston, RG
Team leader,Advanced Chemical Diagnostics and Instrumentation Group, Chemical Science and Technology Division, MS 1565, Los Alamos National Laboratory,NM,

(Received 15 July 1996; accepted 5 December 1996)

Abstract

Security seals are widely used to detect tampering or unauthorized entry. In the author's view, existing standards for vulnerability assessment of security seals are incomplete. This paper discusses the critical attributes of effective vulnerability assessment. These include: a clear understanding of what seal vulnerability assessment is and why it is undertaken; use of appropriate assessment personnel; assessment at the earliest possible stage of seal development; analysis conducted with the proper emphasis and context; rejection of findings of zero vulnerabilities; avoidance of the term “tamper-proof”, characterization of the degree of defeat; and thorough reporting of findings.

Keywords:
security seals, tamper-indicating seals, tamper-indicating devices, tamper-evident devices, tamper detection, tags, antipilferage

Paper ID: JTE11883J
DOI: 10.1520/JTE11883J
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