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Compromising Wired Keyboards

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the not-a-lot-of-substance-here dept.

Flavien writes "A team from the Security and Cryptography Laboratory (LASEC) in Lausanne, Switzerland, found 4 different ways to fully or partially recover keystrokes from wired keyboards at a distance up to 20 meters, even through walls. They tested 11 different wired keyboard models bought between 2001 and 2008 (PS/2, USB and laptop). They are all vulnerable to at least one of the 4 attacks. While more information on these attacks will be published soon, a short description with 2 videos is available."

7 of 277 comments (clear)

  1. No comment.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    I won't type what I think about that...

  2. Dubious claim by Drakkenmensch · · Score: 5, Funny

    Is this going to be another one of those hollow claims backed up by a viral video, like unlocking car doors with a tennis ball?

  3. Easier way to open the car... by MindKata · · Score: 5, Funny

    "like unlocking car doors with a tennis ball".

    Its much easier with a cricket ball. Just use it to break the window.

    --
    There are 10 kinds of people in the world... those who understand binary and those who don't.
    1. Re:Easier way to open the car... by nacturation · · Score: 5, Funny

      Its much easier with a cricket ball. Just use it to break the window.

      That may be how the Brits do it, but using a bowling ball generally meets with smashing success.

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      Want to improve your Karma? Instead of "Post Anonymously", try the "Post Humously" option.
  4. Re:Time for a Faraday cage? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Which is why you move to Pennsylvania and live among the Amish. Also, your crazy hacker beard will look a little less crazy.

  5. Re:But did they test with a Model M? by thered2001 · · Score: 5, Funny

    I'm not so sure...I would expect that the Model M probably produces a spark-gap kind of effect which can be picked up on AM radios a block away.

    --

    If your only tool is a hammer, every problem becomes a nail.

  6. Re:TEMPEST by Jay+L · · Score: 5, Funny

    I think the big news flash on this is that they actually performed four different, real attacks on real, physical keyboards.

    When the first mass-transit-quality teleporter is installed in a major city, there will be a commenter on Slashdot, sneering at it: "This isn't news. They've been doing that at the quantum level for years."