Monday, October 20, 2008

It is possible to snoop on all keyboards ... even through walls

Here's one for the paranoia files:
There's worrying news from the Security and Cryptography Laboratory at EPFL in Lausanne, Switzerland. We're all familiar with the dangers of computer viruses and malicious software - just last week the FBI warned of the growing threat of computer crime. But it seems that one of the biggest threats to computer security could be the keyboard - even those that are not wireless.

Martin Vuagnoux and Sylvain Pasini have discovered that the electromagnetic waves released every time you strike a key on the keyboard can be detected by a nearby antenna and interpreted by computer software to work out exactly what was typed. Click "continue reading" to see a video.

So, be on the lookout for suspicious people with a giant antenna in the next room, especially if you type your passwords slowly  o n e  l e t t e r   a  t   a   t i m e. ;-) See the video: Compromising Electromagnetic Emanations of Keyboards Experiment 1/2 from Martin Vuagnoux. Snooping was worked out acoustically at least three years ago.

1 comment:

Blepulpwede said...

l've just opened a bank account from NatWest. I was wondering if, as soon as Its been activated, can l use my NatWest bank cartd to order things off the internet? Like on shopping and stuff, or will l need a Debit card. I don't really understand how to order things on the internet as this is my first bank card.

Thanks,