Snoop On Wireless Keyboards With Ease

When it comes to security many organisations are affected by their lack of awareness when it comes to threats to their organisations. From a hack on their website to a leak from an ex-employee, companies are facing more and more risks on an everyday basis. The latest risk comes to any organisation that might use a wireless keyboard as they may not be the only ones following each button press.

Cybersecurity research company Bastille tested the attack on a number of wireless keyboards and found that even well-known brands are affected by the risk. The interception technique was used to read a keyboards inputs from as far as 76 metres away.

Bastille stated that the keyboards at risk “could not be updated and should be replaced”. Ivan O’Sullivan, the chief research officer at Bastille was  “shocked to find that two-thirds transmitted all of their data in clear text, no encryption”.

The keyboards were intercepted with a cheap USB-powered radio antenna, even allowing the research team to insert their own keystrokes into the targeted keyboard. The company recommends that you use keyboards that utilise either Bluetooth or a good old fashioned cable.

With Logitech, Lenovo and Dell all being praised for a higher level of security on their wireless keyboards, you might want to stick to cabled keyboards if you want to stay secure.