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Wireless Keyboard "Encryption" Cracked

Posted by kdawson on from the hardly-needs-a-brute dept.

squidinkcalligraphy writes "While everyone is going on about wireless network security, it seems few have considered that increasingly common wireless keyboards can be vulnerable to eavesdropping. Particularly when the encryption is pitifully weak. All that's needed is a simple radio receiver, sound card, and a brute-force attack on the 8-bit encryption used. Passwords galore! Bluetooth, it seems, is safe for the moment."

6 of 232 comments (clear)

  1. Gimme a break by DNS-and-BIND · · Score: 5, Insightful
    OK, instead of broadcasting in the clear, the keyboard gets a little encryption algorithm to prevent anyone from listening in. Some blowhard then takes it upon himself to crack the gradeschool encryption, and trumpets it far and wide as a "security breach". Durrrr...

    Anyone concerned about security doesn't use a wireless keyboard....Durrrr

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    Shutting down free speech with violence isn't fighting fascism. It IS fascism!
    1. Re:Gimme a break by scrantaj · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Sadly the unwashed masses on the internet are not concerned about security because they don't understand it. These are the people who fall for phishing mails, don't keep their AV up to date or blindly click ok on every dialog box that pops up on their system ( a response re-inforced by Vista's insistance on user interaction to do anything ). Expecting these people to use a wired keyboard to improve their security is pointless. They use wireless keyboards because they are "cool" or so that they don't have to mess around with all those untidy cables.

  2. Re:Why a soundcard ! by WombatDeath · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I doubt they need output, but perhaps the function of the sound card is to capture the input from the radio receiver.

  3. Re:Under my desk by chuckymonkey · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Easy there, just because someone reads slashdot does not mean that they have ever been interested understanding radio waves. It was a legitimate question and deserves a legitimate answer. That's called improving the discussion and educating along the way. For all you know this guy could be a master of accounting and if you asked a (to him) basic question about accounting and he responded like you did I don't think that you would be very appreciative. Yes, I see your low UID and I also don't care rude is rude.

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    "Some books contain the machinery required to create and sustain universes."-Tycho
  4. No encryption mybe? by Maavin · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Could be that the "encryption" is just a way to handle multiple keyboards in one reception range...

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    Crivens! I kicked meself in me own heid!
  5. Re:Why a soundcard ! by Fordiman · · Score: 4, Insightful

    "Why not just let him continue in his ignorance?"

    Well, because the less you share information with the apparently ignorant, the more ignorant society at large is.

    If I ask a question, even if it's a dumb one, I desire an answer. As such, I respond to questions I have the answers to. Be the change you want to see in the world, and all.

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