Comments on: Computer Security, A Bug in Google Docs(?), and Norm Coleman Is a Ghoulish Skeletal Idiot

By: Joshua Zelinsky

Joshua Zelinsky — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 13:05:26 +0000

This isn’t really a new trick. This is one reason that some high security installations have copper sheets in the walls. They help prevent attacks like this or similar attacks using stray electromagnetic radiation.

By: Michele Bachman

Michele Bachman — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 11:40:36 +0000

Hey – Stop picking on Norm! At least he isn’t anti-America!

And that commie you linked to above wasn’t necessarily too busy to blog, they just don’t let him blog on political stuff at work. Censorship!

By: Dunc

Dunc — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 10:47:57 +0000

The question is, how do you filter out the keystrokes from the keyboard you’re interested in from the keystrokes on the other 50 identical keyboards in range in the typical cube farm?

By: Greg Laden

Greg Laden — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 10:12:45 +0000

basically a laser mic to the nearby window and you can get enough sound off it to discern the different sounds individual keys make.

That only kinda works. This is a new trick.

Anyway, you can’t do this with my keyboard. I’ve got a special keyboard.

By: Stephanie Z

Stephanie Z — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 10:12:44 +0000

Of course, at Quiche Moraine this morning we also have more detailed information on Norm’s attempt to turn himself into the victim instead of the wrongdoer.

By: Spiv

Spiv — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 10:10:10 +0000

heard of this before, basically a laser mic to the nearby window and you can get enough sound off it to discern the different sounds individual keys make. Moral of the story? Always have the radio playing while you type? I dunno. I’ve always wanted to build a little laser mic to just play with.

As for the listening to interference on the power lines, that’s a hell of a trick. Lots of other noise on there all the time anyway. I’m curious as to what their research atmosphere was like- fairly isolated computer for testing, or a standard office full of lights, phones, speakers, etc? Pretty cool stuff, especially if they’re able to filter off all that other stuff, perhaps isolate a range of EMI unique to keyboards.