News

Smartphones Can be Hacked Using Soundwaves

A group of computer security researchers at the University of Michigan and the University of South Carolina have discovered a security vulnerability in smart devices that allows them to be hacked via soundwaves. In a new paper, the researchers demonstrate how it is possible to use malicious sound files to take control of an accelerometer – the kind featured in smartphones, fitness trackers, and even cars – which, in turn, gives them access to the device’s software.

“It’s like the opera singer who hits the note to break a wine glass, only in our case, we can spell out words” and enter commands rather than just shut down the phone, Kevin Fu, co-author of the paper and associate professor of electrical engineering and computer science at the University of Michigan and the chief executive of Virta Labs, told the New York Times. “You can think of it as a musical virus.”

The accelerometer vulnerability was present in over half of the twenty brands from five manufacturers tested by the researchers, and the fear is that it exists in more devices that were not tested. The paper, entitled WALNUT: Waging Doubt on the Integrity of MEMS Accelerometers with Acoustic Injection Attacks [PDF], and the team’s findings will be presented at the IEEE European Symposium on Security and Privacy in Paris next month.

Ashley Allen

Disqus Comments Loading...

Recent Posts

Plaion Launches Retro ZX Spectrum Computer

Plaion, a leading video game publisher, and Retro Games Ltd., a specialist in reimagined classic…

2 days ago

NVIDIA Warns of GeForce RTX 40 Graphics Card Shortages in November and December

During the latest earnings call, NVIDIA CFO Colette Kress warned of a potential GPU supply…

2 days ago

GeForce RTX 5090, RTX 5080, RTX 5070 Ti, and RTX 5070 Reportedly Coming in Q1 2025

Chinese sources say the GeForce RTX 5090, RTX 5080, RTX 5070 Ti, and RTX 5070…

2 days ago

GTA 6 Already Winning Awards Before Its Launch

GTA 6 doesn’t have an official release date yet, but it has already earned a…

2 days ago

DJI Osmo Mobile 6, 3-Axis Phone Gimbal

Stay on Point with ActiveTrack 6.0 - With upgraded tracking tech, OM 6 sticks to…

3 days ago

Drayton Wiser Smart Radiator Thermostat TRV

Pack includes three Wiser Radiator Thermostats. These smart radiator thermostats are only designed to work…

3 days ago