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Boffins convert typing sounds into text with 95% accuracy (www.theregister.com)

submitted 1 year ago by kpw@kbin.social to c/technology@lemmy.world

145 comments fedilink hide all child comments

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.

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[–] Cronch@lemmy.world 90 points 1 year ago (11 children)

Quite scary considering the accuracy and how many open mics everyone is surrounded by without even realizing it. Not to mention if any content creator types their password while live streaming or recording they could get their accounts stolen.

[–] vareriu@lemmy.world 47 points 1 year ago (3 children)

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

[–] qwertyqwertyqwerty@lemmy.one 30 points 1 year ago (1 children)

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

[–] mosiacmango@lemm.ee 13 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Or use a local password safe like keepass.

[–] rostby@lemmy.fmhy.net 2 points 1 year ago

Or host it yourself like the smart one you are

[–] mjhelto@lemm.ee 7 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Only if you have to type it in to unlock your vault. Now, bear with me.

Bitwarden (maybe others) lets you set a PIN to unlock your vault. Normally, you would think this is a less secure setup, easier to crack with the method outlined in this article. Except with Bitwarden you have to set up the pin in every browser extension and every app install.

Meaning, unless they have access to your device, the PIN to unlock one instance of Bitwarden could be different from the PIN for another. They also don't have to be strictly 4-digit PINs, either. I highly recommend password managers, but for my money, Bitwarden has all my love.

Disclaimer: I am on no way affiliated with Bitwarden. But I could be if they paid me!

[–] noodlejetski@lemm.ee 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

but then I have to remember the PIN for each one of my devices. there should be some kind of app for storing those.

[–] mjhelto@lemm.ee 7 points 1 year ago

Do what users at most businesses do, write it on a sticky note and put it on the underside of your keyboard!

Stick around for more tech tips with a real life sysadmin!

[–] Rai@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

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

[–] dubyakay@lemmy.ca 6 points 1 year ago (1 children)

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

[–] Rai@lemmy.dbzer0.com 0 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

laptop

I don’t think you read the article

A loud ass mech keyboard would fuck this study up

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