Thermal Attacks: The New Way Keys Can Be Stolen In Seconds | cyber security alert technology

a group of Scientists at the University of Glasgow In Scotland, a system based on Artificial intelligence Which guess user password in seconds Detection of the effect of heat from fingers on keyboard and screens.

The system is called ThermoSurereveals the dangers of thermal attacks in cybersecurity: it shows how declining prices for thermal imaging cameras – which detect and measure the infrared energy of objects – and the increase in access to machine learning create new risks for developing these types of attacks.

“They say you have to think like a thief to catch a thief. We are developing ThermoSure Think carefully about how malicious actors Exploiting thermal imaging to access computers and smartphonesDr. Mohamed Khamis, the principal investigator in charge of developing the system, said in a statement.

The researchers also explained the theft of passwords through a thermal attack Does not require expert knowledge, but only looking at computer thermal images strategically placed next to the monitor or keyboard where the key letters were entered. Image The keys pressed by the user will appear in color, being brighter than modern pulses. watchful eye You can guess anyone’s password within 30 to 60 seconds after it has been entered.

During the investigation, the system showed that it was able to identify 16-character long passwords in 20 seconds with an average of 67 percent of correct attempts. In shorter passwords, the success rate increases; It goes up to 82 percent with 12-character keys and up to 93 percent with eight-character keys.

If passwords are reduced to six characters, the chance of success increases to 100 percentas they explained.

The user’s typing style also contributes, so someone who types slowly and tends to rest their fingers longer on the surface of the keys creates a more durable thermal signature.

also Affects the keyboard material, as it affects the ability to retain heat. Thus, the study indicates that keyboards made of ABS plastic cut guesswork by half several times, while in the case of PBT plastic, success is about 14 percent of attempts.