Scientists from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are sounding the alarm – simple light sensors in our smartphones are melting a serious threat to confidentiality. As it turned out, these tiny sensors that regulate the brightness of the screen can be turned into full-fledged hidden cameras for shooting the user and his environment.
A group of researchers from laboratories Csail Mit have developed a special algorithm for computer visualization, which allows you to recreate the image according to subtle fluctuations in the light that the sensor fixes.
According to Professor Felix Hyde from Princeton University, who did not participate in the study, the threat affects almost all gadgets in our daily life. However, so far this danger has been underestimated.
Dr. Jan Liu from MIT, co-author of the study, emphasizes that light sensors record the actions of users without their knowledge and permission. And in combination with the smartphone screen, they can pose a real danger, allowing attackers to quietly monitor the actions of the owner.
The technology can capture various actions such as scrolling through pages or choosing menu items. Additionally, sensors allow for covert video surveillance on smartphones.
To protect users, the scientists propose the following measures:
- Limit the accuracy and speed of the light sensors at the software level.
- Develop an access control system so that the user himself decides on which applications to allow the use of sensors.
- Change the physical location of the sensors in the device, for example, placing them on the lateral face of a smartphone.
As technology develops, the risks of confidentiality violations are growing. Another example is the method of remote interception of the injected text by the sounds of the keys.