Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Beware the Haunted Cordless keyboard

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the you-can't-make-this-stuff-up dept.

dr. greenthumb writes "The norwegian newspaper Aftenposten reports about an incident where a computer suddenly seemed to develop a life of its own. A game which the user could not remember using that day suddenly appeared on the screen. When he went over to shut it off the screen displayed a message asking him if he "really wanted to delete this file?" His computer was receiving keystrokes from another computer (with the same type of wireless keyboard) 150 metres away! Check out the full story and a follow-up, where experts warns against using wireless keyboards." /me plans to destroy Hemos' sanity...

3 of 285 comments (clear)

  1. 256 channels??? by g4dget · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The attitude companies have towards security is appalling. Wireless keyboards have to use strong cryptography or credit card numbers and personal information are being broadcast across the neighborhood. 256 channels isn't going to fix it.

  2. This is only the beginning by ShawnDoc · · Score: 5, Insightful
    With Bluetooth finally making an appearance, expect to see a lot more of this. Since Bluetooth devices are supposed to automatically find each other and just "work", this is only going to become more common. Imagine giving a very important PowerPoint presentation when everything goes hawire when someone giving a presentation of their own the next floor up has their Bluetooth remote starting giving signals to your computer.

    I know there are security and other settings that when properly configured will help prevent these mistakes, but just look at the number of unsecured business wireless networks out there that don't even have WEP turned on. Its going to be nasty.

    1. Re:This is only the beginning by ShawnDoc · · Score: 4, Insightful

      10 meters is about 30 feet. That'll easily cover 2 floors up or down from you.