Tech | October 22, 2008 | 42 comments

Did you realize your wired keyboard transmits everything you type?

source: http://www.money.co.uk/article/1001738-wired-keyboards-not-safe-for-sensitive-data.htm

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Research reveals that criminals could detect the exact information you type into computer keyboard from up to 20 meters away.
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42 comments // Did you realize your wired keyboard transmits everything you type?

  • inflight
    • 0
      inflight  

    • "So, what are we supposed to use instead...?"

      For really sensitive stuff, I use:

      Start>Run> Type "osk" into the box (without the quotation marks) and click OK.

      THAT keyboard can't be snooped on.

    • 3 years ago
  • reaisan
  • ultravphunter
  • SuncatcherEyes
  • laserdog
    • 0
      laserdog  

    • The article is sparse on details, but what I'm betting here is the combination of USB keyboards using higher voltages and long cables make ideal antennas for transmitting your keystrokes.

      Tidying up your cable to the minimum width might help, as might using PS/2, since I believe the voltage used there is lower than USB.

      Even then, it's probably far easier to just trick someone into installing spyware or a key logger than to setup the antennas and hardware necessary to detect and decode Tempest transmissions.

      Honestly, you could probably just run a can opener on your desk while you type your password and be fine.

    • 3 years ago
  • AxeRFJ
  • dankitti
    • 0
      dankitti  

    • Of course it transmits everything you type into it. That's how it works! By transmitting everything you type into the computer. How did you think it works?

    • 3 years ago
  • blueghost09
  • JSBatty
  • daledrops
    • 0
      daledrops  

    • hmmmm, why do i feel like my exBoyfriend is sitting outside my house with his laptop tuned into my keyboard? ... if i catch you, you sonofabitch- it wont be pretty

    • 3 years ago
  • richjm
  • Swiyyah
  • richjm
  • Swiyyah
  • mattbrawn
  • Swiyyah
  • resin_lungs420
  • kewal91
  • Swiyyah
  • krush_productions
  • Stevox
  • tablet
  • Ish05
  • laserdog
  • jonny2times
    • 0
      jonny2times  

    • and even better, you can make such a device out of materials found around your house. dont want to give the kids any ideas though, spying on eachothers instant messenger and whatnot.

    • 3 years ago
  • CaptSutter
    • 0
      CaptSutter  

    • The technology is called "tempest" and has been around for over thirty years. Similarly CRT broadcast signals which let you reproduce the screen on cheap portable tv also some metres away. This is teenager "little brother" stuff.
      And yes, Dmitri the answer is a Faraday cage, or at least knowing who your enemies are.

    • 3 years ago
  • vnprado
  • Dmitri_Molotov
  • superfinet
  • mynissanrules
  • Dmitri_Molotov
  • superfinet
    • 0
      superfinet  
    • mynissanrules:

      not necessarily, it seems that would be logical, but realize that wireless keyboards are frequency specific to prevent most interference with other devices, even though all electronic devices must be compliant with and accept all forms of Electrical interference(noted on nearly all remote devices and many general electronic devices referring to some Canadian treaty thing) but wireless keyboards and mouses operate on a frequency specific to themselves, even across models there is a limited but varied threshold for operation and each [keyboard & mouse] set is specific to itself once you sync them. Anything surveilling would need to know and adjust to that exact frequency which would randomly generate with each synced device inside that window, each user would have a slightly different frequency thus making it slightly more difficult to pinpoint across the board. Now a wired keyboard, from what i gathered, wouldn't need those separate freqs. to operate b/c they are wired, it simply plugs in universally and operates. The same model keyboard for all the different users utilizing that model would have the same EM freq. generated by their keyboards, barring facility specific factory defects, making them that much easier to detect. Having the same wave for all the models at every site, and knowing that pre-programmed frequency makes it easy to everytime read what was being keyed in.

      but like you said, mac! so we are inherently safer than everyone else! muahahahah

    • 3 years ago
  • resin_lungs420
  • puertomeno
  • CalgarC
  • Purdey
  • J_Jammer
    • 0
      J_Jammer [removed]  

    • And this is why I'm thankful for not being famous or nearly important enough for someone to care to do that to me.

      It's almost as cool as parents being able to receive every single text their teenager sends via new technology. hahahaha....everyday I hear something like this and that is when I'm thankful for not being a teenager now. They have it far worse than any previous generation, and I find it hilarious.

    • 3 years ago
  • Tori
    • 0
      Tori  

    • Makes sense I suppose, but it's probably not something people usually think about. My Mom has a wireless keyboard and mouse, cause she hates wires and think they look messy. Maybe she'll reconsider after reading this article...

    • 3 years ago
  • superfinet
    • 0
      superfinet  
    • Tori:

      The article stipulated that it was WIRED keyboards at risk, NOT WIRELESS - I'm not sure if there is a risk associated with Wireless keyboards, they were not discussed in the article, which was published in the United Kingdom so I am not sure if it is opposite of what I understand wired & wireless to be. heh.

      At any rate, as I understand it wireless keyboards and mouses operate on a frequency specific to themselves, a spier would have to know that frequency of EM, whereas a wired board uses the same frequency for the same model universally, which makes it easier to detect.

      anyone PLEASE correct me if this is bull-hockey

    • 3 years ago
  • Tori
    • 0
      Tori  
    • Tori:

      Wow...I feel silly now. It does say wired, and I guess my mind saw wireless because that was what I was expecting!

      But maybe they meant wireless? Someone asked the same in the comments on the article, but it does say wired numerous times throughout the piece...

      If wired keyboards are a problem...seems like every major company in the world could be easily susceptible to this problem!!

    • 3 years ago
  • superfinet
    • 0
      superfinet  
    • Tori:

      very true, but simple magnetic interference devices are easily bought or MacGyvered. one idea is to make Gaussing strips, strip an electrical extension cord and wrap conductive wiring about it, copper could work. that would generate magnetic interference, so you would have to station your workspaces far enough away, but anything passing through, say a doorway bordered with the strips would disrupt a computer passed through the door so if they were stolen would be useless.... I am not certain if that method would entirely disrupt or prevent external magnetic surveillance but it in my theory it would to some degree afford protection, but the risk associated with it may be too much for some.

      good luck staying secure! :oD

    • 3 years ago
  • superfinet
    • 0
      superfinet  
    • Tori:

      the problem with my Gaussian strip idea is its inherent risk in implementation, self-defeating: added security but with a higher risk of accidental erasure...
      Faraday cages as was suggested below work well enough and are generally used to house sensitive equip, esp. at radio transmission stations or the like without accidentally killing your machines :-x

    • 3 years ago
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