Researchers discover keyboard keylogger attack via iPhone
A research team from the Georgia Institute of Technology says it has discovered a keyboard keylogger attack that can be done through a compromised Apple iPhone.
The attack relies on exploiting the iPhone accelerometer technology. "The accelerometer helps you figure out the orientation of the device," says Patrick Traynor, assistant professor in Georgia Tech's School of Computer Science. "It will adjust what's in the screen and you can use it to turn your phone to play games."
The Georgia Tech researchers have found a way to exploit the accelerometer to capture keystroke data on a nearby computer keyboard if the iPhone is positioned within a few inches of it. Traynor says the same type of attack could be used by exploiting other types of smartphones a well, such as Android, and the attack is more successful as manufacturers improve and refine accelerometer technologies.
