Traffic-flow security

In telecommunication, the term traffic-flow security has the following meanings:

1. The protection resulting from features, inherent in some cryptoequipment, that conceal the presence of valid messages on a communications circuit; normally achieved by causing the circuit to appear busy at all times.

2. Measures used to conceal the presence of valid messages in an on-line cryptosystem or secure communications system.

Note: Encryption of sending and receiving addresses and causing the circuit to appear busy at all times by sending dummy traffic are two methods of traffic-flow security. A more common method is to send a continuous encrypted signal, whether or not traffic is being transmitted.

Source: from Federal Standard 1037C and adapted from the Department of Defense Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms