Security Basics mailing list archives
Re: Wireless mouse basestation transmitting wired keystrokes ?
From: Chad Perrin <perrin () apotheon com>
Date: Tue, 27 May 2008 13:01:00 -0600
On Mon, May 26, 2008 at 04:24:26PM -0500, Sergio Castro wrote:
All sorts of electromagnetic emissions can be intercepted straight from devices. Check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TEMPEST
While true, that doesn't really answer the question. The question was whether the base unit for a wireless mouse/keyboard combination would transmit keystrokes from a "wired" keyboard. The answer might be "it depends", but unless there's something actually wrong with the way the base unit's controlling software was designed, this probably doesn't actually happen. No reason for a wireless keyboard base unit to broadcast keystroke data occurs to me at all, other than design flaws. To be certain, however, I guess you'd have to use an RF receiver (assuming it's an RF wireless base unit) to capture any emissions and examine them for the presence of keystroke data. I tend to think it would be more likely that using a wireless keyboard might involve broadcast of (unencrypted) keystroke data, since wireless peripheral device manufacturers probably don't put nearly enough effort into making sure your system is secure. It is for this reason that, while I may use a wireless mouse with a system where I'll be entering passwords, I will *not* use a wireless keyboard with such a system at this time.
OP is below:
-----Mensaje original----- De: listbounce () securityfocus com [mailto:listbounce () securityfocus com] En nombre de cleo_str8 () hotmail com Enviado el: Lunes, 26 de Mayo de 2008 03:25 p.m. Para: security-basics () securityfocus com Asunto: Wireless mouse basestation transmitting wired keystrokes ? I taked to a guy who were claiming that if you have a wireless mouse, with a basestation that also is able to use a wireless keyboard. Then if a wired keyboard is used instead, there is a risk for the basestation to transmit the keystroke onto the wireless, as some kind of acknowledge to the non-existing keyboard. I'm not sure this is the right list to ask this, but am very interested in a answer to this claim. Does anybody know if this is true or false ? Thanks, Peter __________ NOD32 3132 (20080526) Information __________
-- Bill McKibben: "The laws of Congress and the laws of physics have grown increasingly divergent, and the laws of physics are not likely to yield."
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Current thread:
- Wireless mouse basestation transmitting wired keystrokes ? cleo_str8 (May 26)
- RE: Wireless mouse basestation transmitting wired keystrokes ? Sergio Castro (May 26)
- Re: Wireless mouse basestation transmitting wired keystrokes ? Chad Perrin (May 27)
- <Possible follow-ups>
- Re: Wireless mouse basestation transmitting wired keystrokes ? krymson (May 27)
- Re: Wireless mouse basestation transmitting wired keystrokes ? Kelly Keeton (May 29)
- Request for Ideas Adriel Desautels (May 29)
- Re: Request for Ideas Ansgar Wiechers (May 29)
- Re: Request for Ideas Chad Perrin (May 30)
- RE: Request for Ideas Nick Duda (May 30)
- Re: Request for Ideas Adriel Desautels (May 30)
- Re: Wireless mouse basestation transmitting wired keystrokes ? Kelly Keeton (May 29)
- RE: Wireless mouse basestation transmitting wired keystrokes ? Sergio Castro (May 26)