Hi, I've been using Slackware for a couple of years now and bought a wireless keyboard and mouse at the weekend but I'm now wondering if the content of my keyboard I'm typing is open for sniffers. If this is true is there a way to encrypt?


Thanks.

Yes, it can be read from a set distance away. Encryption depends on the manufacturer and would need drivers.

Thanks for quick reponse, mine is Advent model c312 which I'm now searching on the net. I wasn't sure if drivers if need were in the kernel but probably not.

Wireless anything (telephone, keyboard, mouse, tablet, you name it) is a radio frequency transceiver; i.e., a two-way radio. Telephones are 5 Watt transceivers (as are any other devices that communicate with cell phone towers) but keyboards and mice are... well, measured in milliwatts -- it's still radio, but it's pretty low-strength radio.

Can somebody eavesdrop? Sure, if if they have the right equipment and they're close enough. Use the device in a public place, sure. At home, most likely not (unless they're really, really serious about you, then all bets are off anyway).

Can you encrypt them? Hmm. How much do you want to spend? Take a look at the results from Google for "encrypt wireless keyboard" and see what you think (maybe the one you have already has it). Otherwise probably not. Mouse? Why bother, there's no intelligence going from mouse to system, only X-Y coordinates and maybe a click (now, if somebody has your live screen image, that might be a problem but you're really talking about spy craft there).

Hope this helps some.

Yeah tronayne, I'm beginning to think to switch back to my wired keyboard. The cost of a wireless keyboard with encryption, with support for linux is quite expensive.

I read some years ago that simple audio analysis of keystrokes could be used to decipher keystrokes on "any" keyboard, as supposedly, each combination of typist/keyboard develops their own unique audio signature over time. I also read that the wire connecting keyboard to computer emits enough of a signal to be "sniffed" by sophisticated equipment which may or may not be available off-the-shelf.
EIDT: found the article for the acoustic aspect:
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/12/ma...STIC.html?_r=0

Urban myth? As I recall, it was on Slashdot so.......no?

geez, thanks! another thing to get paranoid about...

FYI computers and their peripherals emit electromagnetic radiation that can be sniffed out. It might be easier with wireless using bluetooth since it is a standardised protocol but it is possible with any type of keyboard.

Now where is my tin hat and underwear...

this is the reason why i dont use monitors:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Van_Eck_phreaking

Back in pre-Internet days I administered Unix systems for a military contractor. Rules then were all wiring exposed (along the ceiling) so they could be inspected regularly, no terminal pointed toward the windows, everybody in a private office, two systems, one classified the other not with patch boards for classified connection (and no classified connection left in place for any reason if a person left their office unless somebody sat there to keep watch). Constantly be alert for vehicles parked outside, take alternate routes to and from the office, all that sort of stuff. All the wiring was twisted-pair (less radiation that way), bring your device in from home, guess what, it never leaves the building. Disk drives removed from service stayed in a safe and were ground up at an "approved facility" when being scrapped (same for floppies, tape cartridges, 9-tracks). Absolutely no tape cartridges left the building, no floppy disks, no 9-tracks left the building except in an approved container delivered into the hands of the US Postal Service.

Why was that done? Simple: we were doing it to the other guys and knew they were doing it to us, too.

I do miss the Cold War.

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I worked with some spy stuff. The current spy rooms are fitted with a number of things to prevent any sort of emf/rfi and audio output. That includes filters on power supplies. Also it means a lot of opto isolation and vibration dampers. Background audio and faux signals help mask any easy reception. The rooms are always Faraday cages.

If someone is determined to spy on you and has the motive and the expertise, you will be spied on.

That really is a rare scenario and, if it fits you, you likely already know who you are and have taken precautions.

Most of the type of spying at subject here (man in the middle at Starbucks, intercepted wireless signals between computer and wireless keyboard) is drive-by spying, sort of like war-driving. Folks are looking for convenient targets, like casual burglars casing a house. They'll pick the easy target.

The issue for security in that situation is this: You don't have to be absolutely secure (if there is any such thing), you just have to be more secure than the other houses on the street.

http://www.pcworld.ie/Product/ADVENT...Set/311907/369

Well, I know that at 2.4 GHz you can be many houses away and detect the signal. I had a wireless phone running on this frequency and it was hacked once by a bunch of punks. I don't think they realize that the punishment for this is severe. There is also a TV show, where it was shown that it's very easy to do, and they can steal important info like Credit Card info, etc. if you use a wireless phone. I've gotten rid of it. The same thing is likely for this keyboard as you may be typing your card number instead of saying it.

There is no indication that encryption is supported.

H_TeXMeX_H yeah, I've decided to switch back to my old wired keyboard. I don't live in a busy populated area but the idea that someone could sniff what I'm typing kind of puts me off wireless keyboards, unencrypted ones anyway.

Thanks for all the replies.