T 5.8 Manipulation of lines

Apart from line tapping (see T 5.7 Line tapping), manipulation of lines can also have other targets:

• Frustrated staff members could manipulate lines in such a way that inadmissible connections would be established within and outside the organisation's own IT set-up. Often, the aim would be to merely disrupt IT operations.

• Lines could be manipulated in such a way that private use would be at the expense of the network provider. Apart from the resultant costs regarding the use of chargeable communication lines, lines and resources would be blocked by such private use.
• The destruction of IT lines can cause considerable financial damage to an institution.

The primary cabling in larger properties and lines realising the IT or telecommunication connection to providers often have a high protection requirement in terms of availability.

Example:

• During building works on the premises of a large company, violators were able to open a cable inspection manhole in an area of the construction site with poor access protection. A pruning shear was used to cut a glass fibre bundle of the primary cabling. As a consequence several production buildings were isolated from the IT network and the resultant operational malfunctions and business interruptions caused damage amounting to millions of euros.