A groundbreaking method, known as EM Eye, has emerged, enabling the covert surveillance of security cameras through solid barriers.
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Spying on Security Cameras Through Walls
Developed by Northeastern University researchers, this technique harnesses a radio antenna to intercept the electromagnetic radiation emanating from the internal wiring of cameras.
While security cameras are designed to bolster safety, Interesting Engineering reported that they inadvertently become susceptible to surreptitious monitoring with this innovative approach.
EM Eye capitalizes on the unintentional transmission of electromagnetic radiation by camera wires, serving as an inadvertent conduit for video data leakage. Through signal decoding, researchers can replicate real-time video feeds devoid of audio.
Remarkably versatile, this method extends its reach across various camera types, encompassing home security systems, dashcams, and smartphone cameras.
In extensive testing across a spectrum of 12 camera models, researchers observed varying eavesdropping distances, ranging from less than a foot to up to 16 feet, contingent upon the camera's specifications.
This revelation underscores the profound implications of EM Eye's capability to compromise visual privacy, prompting critical considerations for camera security in diverse contexts. According to the researchers, the method exposes a fundamental flaw in camera design and manufacturing practices.
While most cameras prioritize safeguarding intentional digital pathways like the upload channel to the cloud, they often overlook the inadvertent leakage of information through other channels, such as wiring.
Initially, the video obtained through EM Eye suffers from distortion, attributed to pixel loss during transmission. However, employing machine learning algorithms, the researchers successfully enhanced the video's quality, restoring it to resemble the original footage.
Significant Privacy, Security Apprehensions
Presented at the IEEE Symposium on Security and Privacy, the technique raises significant privacy and security apprehensions. With modest engineering proficiency and a relatively modest investment in equipment, individuals could potentially clandestinely monitor any nearby camera without detection.
This underscores the urgent need for heightened awareness and protective measures against such vulnerabilities in surveillance systems.
The researchers propose that camera manufacturers should explore measures like shielding the internal wires or implementing encryption for video data to thwart potential breaches.
At the core of the technique lies the principle of electromagnetic induction, wherein a changing magnetic field induces an electric current in a conductor. Within cameras, the wires serve as conductors for the electric current carrying video data.
As this current fluctuates, it generates a detectable magnetic field accessible to a radio antenna. In their experimentation, the researchers employed a software-defined radio, capable of tuning into various frequencies and processing diverse signal types.
They complemented this with a directional antenna, allowing precise focus on specific directions while filtering out extraneous noise. Directing the antenna towards the camera facilitated capturing the electromagnetic signal and converting it into a viable video stream.
Notably, Tech Xplore reported that the researchers distinguish their method from other surveillance techniques like hacking into wireless networks or intercepting cloud storage.
Unlike these methods, their approach operates independently of camera network access or storage, leaving no discernible traces of intrusion. Moreover, it effectively functions on cameras lacking internet connectivity, such as dashcams.
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