Hackers Can Now Steal Data via Electrical Outlet
"At the Black Hat USA conference later this month, hackers are preparing to unveil their methodology to steal information typed on a computer keyboard using nothing more than the power outlet to which the computer is connected.
The technique behind the exploit isn't as wildly high-tech as you might think, though. Old-fashioned electrical properties are the key to the trick. Here's how it works (in simple terms): When you type on a standard computer keyboard, electrical signals run through the cable to the PC. Those cables aren't shielded, so the signal leaks via the ground wire in the cable and into the ground wire on the computer's power supply."
Essentially, the technology that has up until receenly, only been available to official eavesdrpping agencies, is now becoming common knowledge among the public. Although the successful probing conducted at distances of up to 15 meters away is a far cry from the long distance capabilities of government intelligence networks. Relatively inexpensive countermeasures can be put in place through electro-magnetic shielding of the outlet designated for computer use, as well as for the cables and attachments running from the computer.
