الوضع الليلي
0
Gadgets can be hacked to produce `dangerous` sounds, says researcher
4:45:56 2019-08-11 1418

Many modern gadgets can be hacked to produce deafening and disorienting sounds, research has revealed.

 

Security researcher Matt Wixey found a range of devices had little protection to stop themselves being turned into "offensive" low-grade, cyber-weapons.

 

Mr Wixey tested laptops, mobile phones, headphones, a PA system and several types of speakers.

 

The weaknesses could cause physical harm, harass individuals or disrupt larger organisations, he said.

 

Annoying tones

Mr Wixey, who is a head of research at PWC's cyber-security practice, said he conducted the experiments as part of PhD work into the ways that malware can directly cause physical harm.

 

He sought to find out if the volume and speaker controls of the devices could be manipulated to make them produce harmful high and low frequency sounds.

 

Custom-made viruses, known vulnerabilities and other exploits were used to subvert the devices and make them emit the dangerous sounds for long periods of time.

 

"Some attacks leveraged known vulnerabilities in a particular device, which could be done locally or remotely in some cases," he told the BBC. "Other attacks would either require proximity to the device, or physical access to it."

 

In one attack, Mr Wixey used a program that scanned local wi-fi and Bluetooth networks for vulnerable speakers which it then sought to take over. Any compromised device would then be made to play the weaponised sound.

 

In some cases, the tones that the range of gadgets were made to emit would only annoy or disorientate people, but at sustained levels the noises were close to levels that could damage hearing, he said.

 

In one case, the device itself was harmed by the tests as it stopped working after the team made it emit a range of sounds over several minutes.

 

Testing was done in a soundproof room and no humans were involved during the series of experiments.

 

Mr Wixey has been in contact with manufacturers to help them develop defences that can act if a device is being made to produce dangerous sounds.

 

The research will be detailed during a talk at the Def Con hacker conference in Las Vegas on 11 August.

Reality Of Islam

A Mathematical Approach to the Quran

10:52:33   2024-02-16  

mediation

2:36:46   2023-06-04  

what Allah hates the most

5:1:47   2023-06-01  

allahs fort

11:41:7   2023-05-30  

striving for success

2:35:47   2023-06-04  

Imam Ali Describes the Holy Quran

5:0:38   2023-06-01  

livelihood

11:40:13   2023-05-30  

silence about wisdom

3:36:19   2023-05-29  

MOST VIEWS

Importance of Media

9:3:43   2018-11-05

Illuminations

the effect of words

5:58:12   2021-12-18

teaching

3:43:50   2022-11-05

humanity

6:28:21   2022-12-20

bahlool & the khalifa`s food

8:19:41   2018-06-21

your children

7:32:24   2022-02-14

education importance

7:26:19   2022-04-08



IMmORTAL Words
LATEST Lack of Will Power the Obstacle to Success How to make eating out with your child both fun and healthy Interpretation of Sura al-Nur - Verse 28 What Happens to Your Brain When You Eat 30% Less for 20 Years? Invisible to the Human Eye: Scientists Create the Smallest QR Code in the World Plastic Without End: Are We Polluting the Planet for Eternity? Vigilance in the Midst of Problems Are you Offering Your Child Enough Water? Interpretation of Sura al-Nur - Verse 27 - Control and regulation of morals Commentary The 3 Hour Rule That Could Boost Your Heart Health Scientists Build Tiny Light Racetracks That Could Revolutionize Sensors Planting Trees Is Not Always Good for Birds, Study Finds