New research has shown that hackers can use artificial intelligence to decipher electromagnetic radiation emitted by the cable that connects a computer to a monitor and then read information from the screen. The attack is especially relevant when the connection between the PC and the monitor is analog.
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A group of scientists from the University of the Republic in Montevideo (Uruguay) have developed an AI model capable of decoding electromagnetic radiation from a monitor cable at a distance of several meters, reports New Scientist The method works like this: Suspected hackers intercept electromagnetic radiation emitted by a VGA, HDMI or DVI cable between a computer and a monitor, then artificial intelligence trained on a set of relevant signals deciphers the intercepted information and transmits it to its destination.
To assess the effectiveness of the attack, the team used standard text-displaying software, intercepted the signal transmitted via HDMI cable to the monitor, decrypted it using standard text recognition software, and compared the result with the original image on the screen. The study found that 30% of the characters were interpreted incorrectly during the decryption process, but the remaining 70% were enough to recognize most of the text.
With this technology, hackers can spy on computer screens as users enter sensitive data. The interception of signals can be done using an antenna installed outside the building or using a small device that captures and records the interception data for later retrieval.
Research leader Federico Larroca believes that attacks of this type, known as TEMPEST, are probably already happening, but only in high-profile industrial or government institutions. Ordinary users, Larroca says, should not worry yet.
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