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Stealing Data Via Electrical Outlet

Posted by timothy on from the accidentally-forget-to-label-some-220v-outlets dept.

Ponca City, We love you writes "NetworkWorld reports that security consultants Andrea Barisani and Daniele Bianco are preparing to unveil their methodology at the Black Hat USA conference for stealing information typed on a computer keyboard using nothing more than the power outlet to which the computer is connected. When you type on a standard computer keyboard, electrical signals run through the cable to the PC. Those cables aren't shielded, so the signal leaks via the ground wire in the cable and into the ground wire on the computer's power supply. The attacker connects a probe to a nearby power socket, detects the ground leakage, and converts the signal back into alphanumeric characters. So far, the attack has proven successful using outlets up to about 15 meters away. The cost of the equipment to carry out the power-line attack could be as little as $500 and while the researchers admit their hacking tools are rudimentary, they believe they could be improved upon with a little time, effort and backing. 'If our small research was able to accomplish acceptable results in a brief development time (approximately a week of work) and with cheap hardware,' they say, 'Consider what a dedicated team or government agency can accomplish with more expensive equipment and effort.'"

5 of 208 comments (clear)

  1. usb keyboard? by screamphilling · · Score: 5, Interesting

    what about usb keyboards? those wires are shielded. the compared the signal to a mouse signal so I'm assuming they're talking about ps2. still interesting(alarming) surveillance technology nonetheless

    1. Re:usb keyboard? by Cylix · · Score: 5, Funny

      another approach is to use wireless keyboards.

      No ground fault attack is possible since I'm using batteries!

      I've been fighting the man for so long I've got a million tricks like this up my sleeve.

      --
      "You should always go to other people's funerals; otherwise, they won't come to yours." -- Yogi Berra
  2. random noise generator? by MoFoQ · · Score: 5, Interesting

    even usb uses a GND and the D+/D- (data wires) aren't isolated from the GND.
    Plus most GND is typically a common ground (through the chassis and to the ground of the power cable).

    and if you consider the fact that this was done by unfunded, tiny group in just a week....makes ya wonder what the NSA or any other BIGGER and better funded group would have up their sleeves.

    looks like I have to come up with a random noise generator to hook up to the ground of my power outlets.

  3. Done that by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    The SIGINT in the Netherlands did this kind of stuff well before the new millennium, including reading the screen (LCD or CRT) and audio by tapping into the ground or pointing a dish to the emitting circuit, one of the reasons why the whole building handling sensitive information must be encased, making it practically a faraday cage. Only disadvantage is that your cellphone doesn't work although the SIGINT saw that as an advantage.

  4. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 5, Funny

    Comment removed based on user account deletion