Researchers in the UK claim to have translated the sound of laptop keystrokes into their corresponding letters with 95 percent accuracy in some cases.

That 95 percent figure was achieved with nothing but a nearby iPhone. Remote methods are just as dangerous: over Zoom, the accuracy of recorded keystrokes only dropped to 93 percent, while Skype calls were still 91.7 percent accurate.

In other words, this is a side channel attack with considerable accuracy, minimal technical requirements, and a ubiquitous data exfiltration point: Microphones, which are everywhere from our laptops, to our wrists, to the very rooms we work in.

  • vareriu@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    One more reason to switch to a password manager, even though they could still find out the master password…

    • qwertyqwertyqwerty@lemmy.one
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      1 year ago

      Probably still have some safety if you’re using two-factor, or have a master key in addition to a password (e.g. 1Password).

    • Rai@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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      1 year ago

      Password manager and the LOUDEST MECHANICAL KEYBOARD POSSIBLE you have NO idea what keys I’m pressing with my blues, bitches

      • dubyakay@lemmy.ca
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        1 year ago

        That’s the whole point though. The louder your keypresses the better.

        • Rai@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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          1 year ago

          laptop

          laptop

          laptop

          I don’t think you read the article

          A loud ass mech keyboard would fuck this study up