Electronic Devices Not Safe from Hackers even When Disconnected to the Web

Think your computer or mobile phone is safe when it is disconnected? Probably not say researchers from Georgia Tech.

"People are focused on security for the Internet and on the wireless communication side, but we are concerned with what can be learned from your computer without it intentionally sending anything. Even if you have the Internet connection disabled, you are still emanating information that somebody could use to attack your computer or smartphone," said Alenka Zajic, an assistant professor at Georgia Tech, in a news release.

The research team working on identifying leaks found that low-power emissions from a device can be picked up by innocuous looking devices used by hackers. According to Business Standard, some signals can even be picked by an AM/FM radio but others may require sophisticated equipment like spectrum analyzers.

The team has also developed a metric for measuring such leaks, which they call side-channels. Leaks could emanate from capacitors and other electronic components.

"We are trying to understand why these side channels exist and what can be done to fix these leaks. We are measuring computers and smartphones to identify the parts of the devices that leak the most. That information can guide efforts to redesign them, and on an architectural level, perhaps change the instructions in the software to change the device behaviour," Zajic said.

The team also released a video showing how text typed on one computer not connected to the internet, can be read on another computer.