Keyboard vulnerabilities

[nihil]

We knew wireless keyboards were potentially vulnerable to eavesdropping, after all, that is the way they are designed to work. This is a bit different, as it affects the traditional wired keyboard:

They've found four different ways to listen in, including one previously-published general vulnerability, on eleven keyboard models ranging from 2001 to 2008, with PS/2, USB and laptop keyboards all falling to at least one of the four attacks. The attack works through walls, as far as 65 feet away, and analyzes a wide swath of electromagnetic spectrum to get its results.

/me goes to make tinfoil keyboard cover

Article is here:

http://www.switched.com/2008/10/21/r...ard-emissions/

[C:\Saw]

[nihil]

Hey, C:\Saw:

When you write to Santa this year don't forget to add a Faraday cage to your list

I guess the principles are similar to TEMPEST, but it does surprise me how much emanation these devices appear to be giving.

I wonder if the devices tested actually did comply with FCC/CE regulations? after all, anyone can put the compliance symbols on appliances.......... that doesn't mean that it is true?

I remember some years ago messing with special anti-TEMPEST fonts......... presuming that these are not just cheap and nasty or defective keyboards, and that this is an inherent problem with all keyboards, there should be a relatively simple way to counteract the potential attack.

I would love to see more details on the actual technology/equipment used, and where the emanations are coming from.