Pneumatic Data Transfer Hacking Techniques
- Definition — Pneumatic data transfer hacking involves using unconventional methods to extract data from isolated or air-gapped systems.
- Techniques — Researchers have developed various methods such as using power lines, electromagnetic waves, and acoustic signals to exfiltrate data.
- PowerHammer — This technique uses fluctuations in power lines to transfer data from air-gapped computers by controlling CPU utilization.
- Electromagnetic Channels — These involve eavesdropping on electromagnetic emissions from devices to capture data.
- Acoustic Channels — Techniques like DiskFiltration use sound emitted by hard drives to transmit data covertly.
From thehackernews.com
Researchers from Israel's Ben Gurion University of the Negev—who majorly focus on finding clever ways to exfiltrate data from an isolated or air-gapped computer—have now shown how fluctuations in the current flow "propagated through the power lines" could be used to covertly steal highly sensitive data.
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Techniques Overview
- Power Line Attacks — Techniques like PowerHammer manipulate power consumption to create data signals.
- Electromagnetic Attacks — These involve capturing data through electromagnetic emissions from devices.
- Acoustic Attacks — Methods such as DiskFiltration use sound waves from hardware components to transmit data.
- Optical Attacks — Use of LEDs and other light sources to send data through visual signals.
- Thermal Attacks — Involve using heat emissions to transfer data, though at very low speeds.
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- PowerHammer — Uses power line fluctuations to exfiltrate data from air-gapped systems.
- DiskFiltration — Employs hard drive noise to transmit data acoustically.
- AirHopper — Converts video card signals into FM radio waves for data transfer.
- LED Exfiltration — Utilizes LED lights to send data through visual signals.
- SATA Cable Exploit — Uses SATA cables as antennas to broadcast data via radio waves.
From thehackernews.com
AirHopper that turns a computer's video card into an FM transmitter to capture keystrokes; BitWhisper that relies on heat exchange between two computer systems to stealthily siphon passwords or security keys.
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Security Implications
- Air-Gapped Vulnerabilities — Despite isolation, air-gapped systems can still be compromised through sophisticated methods.
- Mitigation Strategies — Implementing electromagnetic shielding and acoustic dampening can help protect against these attacks.
- Detection Challenges — Covert channels are difficult to detect due to their unconventional nature.
- Research Focus — Ongoing research aims to develop more secure systems and detection methods.
- Global Threat — Nation-state actors often target air-gapped systems for espionage and data theft.
Air-gapped computers are those that are isolated from the Internet and local networks and therefore, are believed to be the most secure devices that are difficult to infiltrate or exfiltrate data.
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