New technique can hack even computers completely isolated from the internet

Looking at the name, you can probably guess that this hack technique is related to the SATA storage interface. Basically, the SATAn hacking technique can allow hackers to attack even computers that are completely isolated from the internet (air-gapped computers). To do that, the hacker uses a SATA cable as a wireless antenna to transmit data and information from the compromised computer to a nearby receiver.

Air-gapped computers are essentially lonely devices because they are not part of any network. They are isolated from insecure connections, such as the internet, to ensure the safety of the data stored inside.

While studying SATAn, the researchers discovered that data travels over SATA cables most efficiently around the 6 GHz frequency band.

"Although air-gapped computers have no connection to the internet, attackers can use a SATA cable as a wireless antenna to transmit radio signals in the 6 GHz band.

Serial ATA (SATA) is a bus interface that is widely used in modern computers and mainly connects to mass storage devices. The popularity of the SATA interface makes it easy for hackers to perform SATAn attacks in a variety of computer systems and IT environments ," the researchers shared.

Of course, the researchers did not share the details of the attack nor the SATAn approach. However, to be successful, the hacker will most likely have to have physical contact with the air-gapped computer. The way to attack SATAn is certainly not simple, so it will only be a threat to air-gapped computer systems that store classified information.

Samuel Daniel

Update 19 July 2022