Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Headphones can be hijacked to surreptitiously record audio

wired.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

51–60 of 158 posts

Re: Headphones can be hijacked to surreptitiously record audio

#51

Post by mojuba »

elcapitan wrote: post #6

Interesting research, but with people already plugging those headphones into a portable surveillance set, and plus them using headsets (which are already microphones as well), this seems a bit chasing the wrong target? (Assuming that the connected computer is compromised also already implies that the attacker has a microphone at their disposal, with most modern devices like smartphones, tablets and mobile computers)

For starters, the fact that RealTek is so easily reprogrammable to turn audio output into input is very unlikely just a "bug". It's a feature left their on purpose.

Re: Headphones can be hijacked to surreptitiously record audio

#52

Post by stcredzero »

jastanton wrote: post #13

Serious question: I understand the argument against the classic "why should I care if someone records my conversations? I don't do anything illegal.", being that once the government starts recording everything you say the freedom of being able to say anything negative against them goes away knowing they could be listening. That said, why should I, a boring law abiding citizen, go around disabling my hardware and cove…

Serious question: I understand the argument against the classic "why should I care if someone records my conversations? I don't do anything illegal."

For the same reason you have the 5th amendment. It's quite easy to make someone who is innocent look guilty.

why should I, a boring law abiding citizen

Human beings are all "give an inch, take a mile." We have to be constantly put in check, or we will reach farther. Give us enough rope, and we will often hang ourselves. This is why we have laws, social norms, and communities. This also applies to humans who run the government.

Re: Headphones can be hijacked to surreptitiously record audio

#54

Post by JorgeGT »

VLM wrote: post #49
nkrisc wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not just the government you need to worry about, it's independent malicious actors as well. Video or audio recordings from your devices could be used to blackmail you unless you're very, very careful what you do or say at all times such devices are around. With regards to the government, while you may not be doing anything illegal now, it will be illegal when they outlaw it.

Two minor additions. Its not just recordings, but raw material to be edited and spliced together. Its not just illegal stuff you need to worry about but raises concern, adds you to an investigation, adds you to a secret list (no fly list).

> Its not just recordings, but raw material to be edited and spliced together.

"If one would give me six lines written by the hand of the most honest man, I would find something in them to have him hanged." ~ Cardinal Richelieu

Re: Headphones can be hijacked to surreptitiously record audio

#55

Post by replax »

jloughry wrote: post #24
laddng wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The link to the paper is dead. Is there a mirror? I am very curious to see it

Replace the %28 and %29 in the URL with parentheses ( ) and the paper loads correctly. The title is spelt like this: SPEAKE(a)R: Turn Speakers to Microphones for Fun and Profit

The error changes from not found to access denied..

Do you have a link to the paper?

Re: Headphones can be hijacked to surreptitiously record audio

#56

Post by VLM »

JorgeGT wrote: post #54
VLM wrote: post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Two minor additions. Its not just recordings, but raw material to be edited and spliced together. Its not just illegal stuff you need to worry about but raises concern, adds you to an investigation, adds you to a secret list (no fly list).

> Its not just recordings, but raw material to be edited and spliced together. "If one would give me six lines written by the hand of the most honest man, I would find something in them to have him hanged." ~ Cardinal Richelieu

Well, his thing was a culture where everyone was guilty of something and punishment was pretty harsh. To some extent like now. I'm sure I'm not recycling all my garbage precisely legally and that cap needs to be on (or off?) the creamer and I certainly was guilty of speeding this morning like everyone else on the road.

I meant just outright fabrication. Record one conversation about my coworker being on vacation in northern Wisconsin to shoot deer and another conversation about my watching the president make a speech before I went to the boy scout troop meeting on Monday and a semi-skilled editor can cut and paste together fake audio evidence that I'm the ringleader of a military coup with all kinds of detailed elaborate plans. Now that wouldn't result in a guilty verdict, but might result in swatting or just generic harassment, or maybe end up on some .gov list.

Re: Headphones can be hijacked to surreptitiously record audio

#58

Post by sleepprogger »

replax wrote: post #55
jloughry wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Replace the %28 and %29 in the URL with parentheses ( ) and the paper loads correctly. The title is spelt like this: SPEAKE(a)R: Turn Speakers to Microphones for Fun and Profit

The error changes from not found to access denied.. Do you have a link to the paper?

Use f.e google cache to read it: cache:http://cyber.bgu.ac.il/advanced-cyber/system/files/SPEAKE%28...

Re: Headphones can be hijacked to surreptitiously record audio

#59

Post by Senji »

mojuba wrote: post #51
elcapitan wrote: post #6

Interesting research, but with people already plugging those headphones into a portable surveillance set, and plus them using headsets (which are already microphones as well), this seems a bit chasing the wrong target? (Assuming that the connected computer is compromised also already implies that the attacker has a microphone at their disposal, with most modern devices like smartphones, tablets and mobile computers)

For starters, the fact that RealTek is so easily reprogrammable to turn audio output into input is very unlikely just a "bug". It's a feature left their on purpose.

It's a selling point. You plug anything at the back then change the jack's purpose in the control panel gui for the audio card.

Re: Headphones can be hijacked to surreptitiously record audio

#60

Post by Forbo »

ff10 wrote: post #5

Do Apple machines really use Realtek audio chips? Is reassigning port direction possible even when there's just one physical plug?

The chip in my MacBookPro11,5 is identified only as "Intel High Definition Audio". I couldn't find any additional info on the specific chipset.
Post reply on HN