What does TEMPEST refer to?

TEMPEST refers to unintentional emissions related to data. It is a term used in telecommunications and information security, denoting the study and control of compromising emanations from electronic equipment. These emissions can inadvertently leak sensitive information in the form of electromagnetic signals, which could potentially be intercepted by adversaries without physical access to the equipment.

The importance of TEMPEST lies in implementing measures to protect against these emissions, thereby ensuring that confidential data remains secure. This often involves the use of specially designed equipment and shielding techniques. Secure communication protocols, encryption methods, and physical security measures are all concepts that contribute to secure information handling but do not specifically address the phenomena of unintentional emissions as TEMPEST does.