networkworld.com— If attackers intent on data theft can tap into an electrical socket near a computer or if they can draw a bead on the machine with a laser, they can steal whatever is being typed into it.
Jul 12, 2009View in Crawl 4
4AntiStupid never played with a digital scope that let you store reference signals to subtract from and normalize another wave, apparently.You can pick up keyboard "sounds" quite easily. There's only a few chipsets that are used in keyboards, and they all work on the same principle (wireless ones are different).Hell guy, you can use an AM radio to "listen" to a keyboard, if you can pick up a really old sloppy transistor AM radio at a garage sale.But if you are going to get to that point where you reference that single computer (and there's others on the same circuit) you are better off installing a 10 dollar blip-transmitter keylogger... they are small, they are quick, and they can be multiple in nature and disguised to look like anything.If you are quick, you can wire a PS/2 or a USB keyboard into one, strip the end, snap it into the connection to look normal with your fingers, and you'd never know. You bribe the cleaning crew. In and out and you just pick up trash and vaccum like you are filling in for someone, drop a keyboard, bring it back onto the desk and look like you're verifying that you plugged it in ok. Then just wait.You listen periodically for a signal, using a microwave dish that can be made from scrap.
Part of a bigger study: "Will people believe in anything perceivedly tech-savvy folks say?"Granted, works in theory if you can somehow differentiate vibrations, but laser microphones are nothing new. You're better off with cameras or good old social engineering. Fortunately for us, the articles "tips" on how to foil this method are things most people do unconsciously anyway.
“Consider what a dedicated team or government agency can accomplish with more expensive equipment and effort,” I do, and it scares the crap outta me.Still, that's some pretty amazing tech. Kudos to the brilliant minds that came up with it.
Closed AccountJul 12, 2009
Seeing is believing -- Doubting Thomas
shadowspawnJul 12, 2009
4AntiStupid never played with a digital scope that let you store reference signals to subtract from and normalize another wave, apparently.You can pick up keyboard "sounds" quite easily. There's only a few chipsets that are used in keyboards, and they all work on the same principle (wireless ones are different).Hell guy, you can use an AM radio to "listen" to a keyboard, if you can pick up a really old sloppy transistor AM radio at a garage sale.But if you are going to get to that point where you reference that single computer (and there's others on the same circuit) you are better off installing a 10 dollar blip-transmitter keylogger... they are small, they are quick, and they can be multiple in nature and disguised to look like anything.If you are quick, you can wire a PS/2 or a USB keyboard into one, strip the end, snap it into the connection to look normal with your fingers, and you'd never know. You bribe the cleaning crew. In and out and you just pick up trash and vaccum like you are filling in for someone, drop a keyboard, bring it back onto the desk and look like you're verifying that you plugged it in ok. Then just wait.You listen periodically for a signal, using a microwave dish that can be made from scrap.
zed26Jul 12, 2009
Part of a bigger study: "Will people believe in anything perceivedly tech-savvy folks say?"Granted, works in theory if you can somehow differentiate vibrations, but laser microphones are nothing new. You're better off with cameras or good old social engineering. Fortunately for us, the articles "tips" on how to foil this method are things most people do unconsciously anyway.
wassamattaJul 12, 2009
reminds me of tempest<a class="user" href="http://www.surasoft.com/articles/tempest.php">http://www.surasoft.com/articles/tempest.php</a>
samkJul 12, 2009
This is why I choose to never work on anything important.
cfuseJul 13, 2009
Maintain a warranty.
marciotJul 14, 2009
Which is more than you can say for teenagers on social networking accounts, alas.
powatomJul 15, 2009
Yeah we get it, you read XKCD.
kyrgizionJul 26, 2009
“Consider what a dedicated team or government agency can accomplish with more expensive equipment and effort,” I do, and it scares the crap outta me.Still, that's some pretty amazing tech. Kudos to the brilliant minds that came up with it.