The NSA is reportedly able to access offline computers thanks to radio wave tech - page 6.

benjamindees

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Quote from: Spendulus on January 15, 2014, 08:53:40 AM

It's not believable. The USB / whatever radio device could REPORT AND RECEIVE INSTRUCtioNS when the computer was off, but not "tap into the computer", unless the firmware of the computer was set to turn on with USB activity.

It depends on how integrated it is. The technology has been openly available for quite a while. I've had the misfortune of being subjected to it via an ex-employer. Some Acer Aspire notebooks have integrated GSM modems, which can be used (even when the device is off) to update or alter the system's software. When they say "by a manufacturer," they mean it.

guybrushthreepwood

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Quote from: Spendulus on January 15, 2014, 08:53:40 AM

Quote from: Wilikon on January 14, 2014, 11:51:40 PM

The ongoing series of leaks from the NSA and its cyberspying programs have got many wondering how to stay safe. It’s been joked that the only guarantee is to be offline, but now even that extreme approach doesn’t guarantee an escape from the US agency’s eyes, according to a New York Times report.

Citing leaked documents, the paper claims that the NSA has developed “a secret technology” which taps into radio waves to access computers and hardware, even those that are offline. The setup relies on a radio-transmitting device — such as a USB or other kinds of hardware/peripherals — being connected to the device in question, either by an agent, a manufacturer or users themselves.

There’s no evidence that the technology has ever been used, but it is a particularly troubling development considering that the agency is already reported to have all manner of tools to gain backdoor access to popular consumer and business electronic devices.

➤ N.S.A. Devises Radio Pathway Into Computers [New York Times]
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/15/us/nsa-effort-pries-open-computers-not-connected-to-internet.html

http://thenextweb.com/insider/2014/01/15/nsa-reportedly-able-access-offline-computers-thanks-radio-wave-technology/?fromcat=all#!seaPr

How about this?

It's not believable. The USB / whatever radio device could REPORT AND RECEIVE INSTRUCtioNS when the computer was off, but not "tap into the computer", unless the firmware of the computer was set to turn on with USB activity.

Yup, sounds like utter bullshit to me.

Spendulus

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Quote from: Wilikon on January 14, 2014, 11:51:40 PM

The ongoing series of leaks from the NSA and its cyberspying programs have got many wondering how to stay safe. It’s been joked that the only guarantee is to be offline, but now even that extreme approach doesn’t guarantee an escape from the US agency’s eyes, according to a New York Times report.

Citing leaked documents, the paper claims that the NSA has developed “a secret technology” which taps into radio waves to access computers and hardware, even those that are offline. The setup relies on a radio-transmitting device — such as a USB or other kinds of hardware/peripherals — being connected to the device in question, either by an agent, a manufacturer or users themselves.

There’s no evidence that the technology has ever been used, but it is a particularly troubling development considering that the agency is already reported to have all manner of tools to gain backdoor access to popular consumer and business electronic devices.

➤ N.S.A. Devises Radio Pathway Into Computers [New York Times]
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/15/us/nsa-effort-pries-open-computers-not-connected-to-internet.html

http://thenextweb.com/insider/2014/01/15/nsa-reportedly-able-access-offline-computers-thanks-radio-wave-technology/?fromcat=all#!seaPr

How about this?

It's not believable. The USB / whatever radio device could REPORT AND RECEIVE INSTRUCtioNS when the computer was off, but not "tap into the computer", unless the firmware of the computer was set to turn on with USB activity.

coinpr0n

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Fortune Cookie says,

"The only secure computer is one that's unplugged, locked in a safe,
and buried 20 feet under the ground in a secret location... and I'm
not even too sure about that one"
-- Dennis Huges, FBI.

Lethn

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Quote

There’s no evidence that the technology has ever been used, but it is a particularly troubling development considering that the agency is already reported to have all manner of tools to gain backdoor access to popular consumer and business electronic devices.

Before you fly off into a panic everybody read more carefully, the NSA and other crime agencies love scaring the crap out of you and making you think they're more clever than they actually are, this would have been all over the other news networks if it was true and when you consider the laws of physics I find this even more unbelievable but you'd need someone who's an actual expert in this kind of thing to confirm it if it's true anyway.

Ekaros

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Quote from: Wilikon on January 15, 2014, 02:09:41 AM

Quote from: Romyen on January 15, 2014, 12:13:50 AM

I guess we need to keep our offline computers enclosed within a copper wire mesh.

Make sure the whole room is a Faraday cage.

I think sound proofing and no windows(physical ones that is) is also in order...

Wilikon

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minds.com/Wilikon

Quote from: Romyen on January 15, 2014, 12:13:50 AM

I guess we need to keep our offline computers enclosed within a copper wire mesh.

Make sure the whole room is a Faraday cage.

Romyen

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I guess we need to keep our offline computers enclosed within a copper wire mesh.

Ekaros

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So sticking radio transmiter in computers allows you to communicate with it... So anything new?

keithers

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This is the land of wolves now & you're not a wolf

It is scary that the NSA will go to such lengths to spy on our own citizens. Gotta love how the USA allocating all of our hard workers tax dollars.

Wilikon

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minds.com/Wilikon

The ongoing series of leaks from the NSA and its cyberspying programs have got many wondering how to stay safe. It’s been joked that the only guarantee is to be offline, but now even that extreme approach doesn’t guarantee an escape from the US agency’s eyes, according to a New York Times report.

Citing leaked documents, the paper claims that the NSA has developed “a secret technology” which taps into radio waves to access computers and hardware, even those that are offline. The setup relies on a radio-transmitting device — such as a USB or other kinds of hardware/peripherals — being connected to the device in question, either by an agent, a manufacturer or users themselves.

There’s no evidence that the technology has ever been used, but it is a particularly troubling development considering that the agency is already reported to have all manner of tools to gain backdoor access to popular consumer and business electronic devices.

➤ N.S.A. Devises Radio Pathway Into Computers [New York Times]
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/15/us/nsa-effort-pries-open-computers-not-connected-to-internet.html

http://thenextweb.com/insider/2014/01/15/nsa-reportedly-able-access-offline-computers-thanks-radio-wave-technology/?fromcat=all#!seaPr

Topic: The NSA is reportedly able to access offline computers thanks to radio wave tech - page 6. (Read 7606 times)