Scientists have shown that passwords may be hacked using simply the sound of your fingers on the keyboard and an AI.
They found this out in several trials by placing telephones next to MacBook Pro keyboards. They discovered that AI could pick up on the pitch and volume of keystrokes and their timing, amplitude, and waveform. It can also learn each user’s unique typing pattern.
Academics at Durham, Surrey, and London found that AI software installed on smartphones near videoconferencing apps like Zoom and other commercially available applications could potentially eavesdrop on users as they entered their credentials online.
However, when it comes to detecting passwords using videoconferencing, AI is only 93% accurate. But this risk is growing and more common than people may expect; the researchers highlighted that the number of microphones within the acoustic range of keyboards has grown and will continue to do so.
Metro suggests utilizing a password manager like Windows Hello or Touch ID to generate, store, and embed complex passwords as a means to thwart credential theft by AI.
By eliminating the need to input passwords manually, the application reduces the likelihood that a malevolent AI eavesdropper on your phone or other device would be able to learn your passwords. Also, you won’t have to try to keep track of many different passwords.
Don’t use your desktop or laptop computer to access your accounts online if it is used to play sound or record audio. This is an additional safety precaution that might be useful.
The researchers offered no advice regarding what to do if an AI virus is discovered on a desktop computer or a laptop rather than on a smartphone that can pick up nearby keyboard stroke sounds.
The lesson is to be aware of potential hacking and adjust your behavior accordingly.
