[clug] Offline snooping

[Alex Satrapa]

It doesn’t matter what OS you are running, there are “TEMPEST” style attacks that can be used against it. The original “TEMPEST” spying involved picking up the EM signal from CRTs so you could see what was displayed on the computer’s screen. These days you just tune in to the 2GHz signal emitted by the chipset and it tells you what the computer is processing.

There are other options too, such as installing malware (e.g.: via Autorun or equivalent) which uses hardware onboard the computer to transmit information. That hardware could be the built-in but “disabled” WiFi, bluetooth, or even the sound card.

Even better is if you can use all the mobile phones in the world as mobile bluetooth/wifi/audio listening devices.

It’s not paranoia. They’re not out to get *me*. They’re out to get everyone, as efficiently as possible.

Alex

On 30 Jan 2014, at 21:11, Keith Sayers <spinifex at iprimus.com.au> wrote:

>     Would anyone know anything about this?  I had imagined that because I was 
> using a Linux operating system I was more secure than with Windows - am I 
> being naive?
> 
>> http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-25743074
> 
>> The US National Security Agency (NSA) used secret technology to spy on      
>> computers that were not even connected to the internet, it has been         
>> reported.
> 
>> Citing documents from whistleblower Edward Snowden, the New York Times said 
>> 100,000 machines were fitted with small devices that emitted radio waves.
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Keith Sayers                                           spinifex at iprimus.com.au
> 6 Clambe Place
> CHARNWOOD, ACT 2615,
> Australia                                         http://www.keithsayers.id.au
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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