The method, known as EM Eye, can even capture images through walls, raising huge concerns about the potential for misuse.
The research, led by Kevin Fu, a professor of electrical and computer engineering at Northeastern University, targets a vulnerability in the data transmission cables within most modern cameras. These cables unintentionally act as radio antennas, leaking electromagnetic information that can be picked up and decoded to reveal real-time video.
As reported by Tech Xplore, the vulnerability exists because manufacturers focus on protecting the intentional digital interfaces of cameras, such as the upload channel to the cloud, but overlook the potential for information leakage through accidental channels. “They never intended for this wire to become a radio transmitter, but it is,” Fu explains. “If you have your lens open, even if you think you have the camera off, we’re collecting.”
Cross post from https://lemmy.world/post/12081766
The next paragraph is also worth highlighting (emphasis added).
The EM Eye method has been tested on 12 different types of cameras, including those found in smartphones, dash cams, and home security systems. The distance required to eavesdrop varies, but in some cases, it can be done from as far as 16 feet away.
I posted this in another thread originally:
Actual Paper, images on page 10 On the top of Page 10 are example shots, ground truth is original image, sota means the captured feed, EM Eye is the feed with their post-processing (aka “Enhance”). The lengths on top are how long the cable you are snooping on is (ie a cell phone’s cable is only gonna be a few cm, a laptop is probably at the 15cm mark), and how far away you are (Those last pics at 300cm(3m) would be under 10ft). It is definitely impressive but this is up there with stealing passwords from keyboard clicks, you usually have somewhat of an advanced threat in mind to think someone might use this against you.
manufacturers focus on protecting the intentional digital interfaces of cameras, such as the upload channel to the cloud
I think even that is giving them too much credit. Like most “internet of things” devices, cameras that upload to the cloud are generally awful at security and privacy.
This isn’t cloud/online vulnerability. It’s physical due to a wire in cameras (smartphone, home security, dashcam, etc) that send out radio signals.
It’s all in the article.
This article isn’t about a web exploit, it is a hardware exploit on the camera itself.
Indeed.
But apparently 23 other people are just as fucking clueless about the discussion.
No, 23 other people actually read and understood what I wrote.
It’s okay to not always pick up on nuance and implied relevance, but being rude to the people who do accomplishes nothing good. Next time maybe consider the possibility that they aren’t the clueless ones in the room.
It’s so frustrating that in the modern age instead of people just admitting they misunderstood, they backpedal and obfuscate in a pile of five dollar words claiming that the people calling them out are the actual misunderstanders.
Reeks of maga so now you are banned from my lemmy experience forever.
Thank god people watching me is my fetish
haha illegal surveillance of innocent civilians is fine! Let’s joke about it!
Seriously?
Wow, we’ve actually reached the point of Van Eck Phreaking. Time to switch to Memexes!
Well… I guess if this is our brave new world, I hope the people spying on me find my life as boring as I do.
Wow it sure would be nice if people got angry about this world of near universal surveillance instead of just rolling over and coping through jokes.
Well seeing as I am an IT admin, locking down every IoT device I own, or am professionally responsible for, and educating my friends andfamily as to why and how they should protect themselves.
Also since the late 90s I’ve written well over fifty letters to local politicians about the dangers of poorly protected sensors and cameras.
And I also come into social media forums where people are being absolutely ignorant fucking idiots and waste my time educating a bunch of fools who would rather harass me than acknowledge the orwellian nightmare we are galloping into.
How bout you?
