The method, known as EM Eye, can even capture images through walls, raising huge concerns about the potential for misuse.

The research, led by Kevin Fu, a professor of electrical and computer engineering at Northeastern University, targets a vulnerability in the data transmission cables within most modern cameras. These cables unintentionally act as radio antennas, leaking electromagnetic information that can be picked up and decoded to reveal real-time video.

As reported by Tech Xplore, the vulnerability exists because manufacturers focus on protecting the intentional digital interfaces of cameras, such as the upload channel to the cloud, but overlook the potential for information leakage through accidental channels. “They never intended for this wire to become a radio transmitter, but it is,” Fu explains. “If you have your lens open, even if you think you have the camera off, we’re collecting.”

Cross post from https://lemmy.world/post/12081766

  • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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    9 months ago

    Well… I guess if this is our brave new world, I hope the people spying on me find my life as boring as I do.

    • mods_are_assholes@lemmy.world
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      9 months ago

      Wow it sure would be nice if people got angry about this world of near universal surveillance instead of just rolling over and coping through jokes.

        • mods_are_assholes@lemmy.world
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          9 months ago

          Well seeing as I am an IT admin, locking down every IoT device I own, or am professionally responsible for, and educating my friends andfamily as to why and how they should protect themselves.

          Also since the late 90s I’ve written well over fifty letters to local politicians about the dangers of poorly protected sensors and cameras.

          And I also come into social media forums where people are being absolutely ignorant fucking idiots and waste my time educating a bunch of fools who would rather harass me than acknowledge the orwellian nightmare we are galloping into.

          How bout you?