Computer viruses can infect through ... air

A new study shows that people can transfer data between non-networked laptops via the air by using high-frequency audio signals.

Gold measures to protect computer systems - the way the US military or Osama Bin Laden once did - is not to connect computers to the Internet. Before having a wireless network, so that the computer is not connected to the Internet, just make sure they are not plugged in to the network cable. This is one of the most drastic, most inconvenient and hard-to-maintain computer security measures.

This approach is often applied only to computer systems that require extremely high security because it limits the ability of the computer, but anyway, it is believed that it is absolutely safe. . However, according to a recent study by the Fraunhofer Institute, people can transfer data between non-networked laptops using high-frequency audio signals.

Researchers Michael Hanspach and Michael Goetz said that it is possible to transfer data between two laptops spaced 19.7m apart at a rate of about 20bit / sec using sound methods developed for communication. Underwater news. In other words, computers can exchange data to each other by transmitting sound waves that cannot be heard through the computer's speakers and microphones.

To cut off all access to the computer from the outside world, we often use a way to disconnect from the Internet or not use a USB drive but it turns out there are many other ways to access the computer, even via gas. It reflects a misconception about computer security, stemming from careless application of real-life realities to the virtual world. Clearly, we do not have a thorough understanding of all the means that can be used to access computer systems.