Author Topic: Security in Wireless Keyboards  (Read 4127 times)

0 Members and 2 Guests are viewing this topic.

Offline iago

  • Leader
  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 17914
  • Fnord.
    • View Profile
    • SkullSecurity
Security in Wireless Keyboards
« on: December 03, 2007, 10:50:14 am »
http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/484414/30/0/threaded

Essentially, Microsoft and Logitech's 27mhz wireless keyboards can be read up to 10m away without specialized equipment. It wouldn't surprised me if people at banks or other places handling sensitive data used those without even realizing the potential impact!

Offline Warrior

  • supreme mac daddy of trolls
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 7503
  • One for a Dime two for a Quarter!
    • View Profile
Re: Security in Wireless Keyboards
« Reply #1 on: December 03, 2007, 02:35:40 pm »
Haha wow I never even considered that as an attack vector, it's pretty cool.
One must ask oneself: "do I will trolling to become a universal law?" And then when one realizes "yes, I do will it to be such," one feels completely justified.
-- from Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Trolling

Offline Joe

  • B&
  • x86
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 10319
  • In Soviet Russia, text read you!
    • View Profile
    • Github
Re: Security in Wireless Keyboards
« Reply #2 on: December 04, 2007, 02:34:07 am »
I'm not going to say that this is safe, but I don't think I've ever seen a wireless keyboard in a bank. Regardless, that's pretty scary. In the right environment, 10 meters is quite a distance.
I'd personally do as Joe suggests

You might be right about that, Joe.


Offline iago

  • Leader
  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 17914
  • Fnord.
    • View Profile
    • SkullSecurity
Re: Security in Wireless Keyboards
« Reply #3 on: December 04, 2007, 10:22:00 am »
Have you actually seen an employee's keyboard in the bank? At every bank I've been to, they're in a tray or under the desk.

In any case, some employees that don't like their keyboards will bring in their own, and there's no guarantee which type of insecure ones they bring.

Offline MyndFyre

  • Boticulator Extraordinaire
  • x86
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4540
  • The wait is over.
    • View Profile
    • JinxBot :: the evolution in boticulation
Re: Security in Wireless Keyboards
« Reply #4 on: December 04, 2007, 12:45:29 pm »
Have you actually seen an employee's keyboard in the bank? At every bank I've been to, they're in a tray or under the desk.

In any case, some employees that don't like their keyboards will bring in their own, and there's no guarantee which type of insecure ones they bring.
You do realize that there have been trays in desks for MUCH longer than there have been wireless keyboards, right?

Incidentally, my wireless keyboard at home is Bluetooth and it syncs up with my computer over a secure channel.  :)
I have a programming folder, and I have nothing of value there

Running with Code has a new home!

Our species really annoys me.

Offline iago

  • Leader
  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 17914
  • Fnord.
    • View Profile
    • SkullSecurity
Re: Security in Wireless Keyboards
« Reply #5 on: December 04, 2007, 01:04:18 pm »
You do realize that there have been trays in desks for MUCH longer than there have been wireless keyboards, right?
Wtf are you talking about, they didn't invent trays till wireless!!!!

But seriously, I was responding to Joe who said that he never saw a wireless keyboard in a bank, but I'd be surprised if he saw any keyboard in a bank well enough to identify it's wireless capabilities, that's all.

Offline MyndFyre

  • Boticulator Extraordinaire
  • x86
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4540
  • The wait is over.
    • View Profile
    • JinxBot :: the evolution in boticulation
Re: Security in Wireless Keyboards
« Reply #6 on: December 04, 2007, 01:20:14 pm »
Ah, that makes more sense. :)
I have a programming folder, and I have nothing of value there

Running with Code has a new home!

Our species really annoys me.

Offline Blaze

  • x86
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 7136
  • Canadian
    • View Profile
    • Maide
Re: Security in Wireless Keyboards
« Reply #7 on: December 04, 2007, 05:35:45 pm »
My friend works in a TD Bank, and nothing there is wireless he says.  :P
And like a fool I believed myself, and thought I was somebody else...

Offline Joe

  • B&
  • x86
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 10319
  • In Soviet Russia, text read you!
    • View Profile
    • Github
Re: Security in Wireless Keyboards
« Reply #8 on: December 04, 2007, 09:43:48 pm »
Yeah, a few banks I've gone to have keyboards on the counter, next to the monitor.

EDIT -
It'd be funny to see a lawsuit over someone sniffing information from a wireless keyboard brought to work by an employee.
I'd personally do as Joe suggests

You might be right about that, Joe.