Hard Drive LED Allows Data Theft From Air-Gapped PCs

[vemn]

Researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Israel have disclosed yet another method that can be used to exfiltrate data from air-gapped computers, and this time it involves the activity LED of hard disk drives (HDDs).

Many desktop and laptop computers have an HDD activity indicator, which blinks when data is being read from or written to the disk. The blinking frequency and duration depend on the type and intensity of the operation being performed.

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[vemn]

Totally amazed of what I'd read...
Technology advancement... zzz

 

[Vasudev]

I dunno what my system will behave like since my system has lot of lights.

 

[vemn]

I dunno what my system will behave like since my system has lot of lights.

Or it's already being...monitored...
Shut your windows ><

 

[Vasudev]

Or it's already being...monitored...
Shut your windows ><

Yeah maybe. So far I didn't see any suspicious processes using task manager.

 

[Rolo]

That's why physical security (no windows, shielded room, etc.) accompanies electromagnetic isolation. At least, everywhere I worked it was.

 

[vemn]

That's why physical security (no windows, shielded room, etc.) accompanies electromagnetic isolation. At least, everywhere I worked it was.

Yeah I had once too.
But no, not electromagnetic isolation. That's a bit extreme isn't it???

 

[Ink]

Don't share with the paranoid home users. Just stick some duct tape over the LED?

 

[Rolo]

Yeah I had once too.
But no, not electromagnetic isolation. That's a bit extreme isn't it???

I worked in/with various U.S. Government agencies, to include missile systems, satellite networks, space systems, air sovereignty, intelligence/counterintelligence, tactical communications, netops...all areas that are continuously under attack on many, many fronts.

No, not extreme.

 

[vemn]

Don't share with the paranoid home users. Just stick some duct tape over the LED?

You just nail it with this ultimate solution! Brilliant!

 

[vemn]

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