U.S. scientists say there’s a new threat to computer security — devices that covertly transmit data from peripherals over a network connection.
The researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Engineering and Applied Science warn peripheral devices such as keyboards, mice or microphones could be physically bugged in an attempt to steal data.
Penn graduate student Gaurav Shah says the threat comes from technology called JitterBugs — named by Shah’s advisor, Penn Associate Professor Matthew Blaze. The technology was so named because it transmits stolen data in jittery chunks — by adding nearly imperceptible processing delays after a keystroke, and for the jitters such a bug could inspire in anyone with secure data to safeguard.
Shah presented his findings last week during the USENIX Security Conference in Vancouver, B.C., where it was designated the Best Student Paper by conference organizers.
