Can Spies Decipher Keyboard Clicks?

Iria · Sep 14, 2005, 06:05 PM

Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, have found a way to turn the clicks and clacks of typing on a computer keyboard into a startlingly accurate transcript of what exactly is being typed.

In a paper released last week, the researchers explained how they developed software that could analyze the sound of someone typing on a keyboard for just ten minutes and then piece together as much as 96 percent of what had been typed.

The technique works because of the simple fact that the sound of someone striking an "a" key is different from the sound of striking the "t," according to Doug Tygar, a professor of computer science at Berkeley. "Think of a Congo drum. If you hit a Congo drum on different parts of the skin, it makes a different tone," he said. "That's an analogy for what's happening here, because there's a plate underneath the keyboard [that is] being struck in different locations."
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Read More / Source: PC World

Paradox Enigma · Sep 15, 2005, 07:01 PM

...and you'll see this "trick" in a future Hollywood spy thriller movie...

riles9262 · Sep 15, 2005, 07:16 PM

...starring bruce willis I'm sure...

Son_of_Thunder · Sep 15, 2005, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by riles9262

...starring bruce willis I'm sure...

Has Bruce ever been in a spy movie? I'd have to star Brosnan or Cruise.

Zelig · Sep 16, 2005, 12:18 AM

Hah, they'd have great results with my Dvorak layout I bet.

Dark Lord · Sep 16, 2005, 12:26 AM

i just cant imagine this would work well.

every diffrent make/model of keyboard is diffrent then the others. the material its made out of, thickness, spring resistance, so on and so forth. the sounds would be diffrent for every keyboard, it would throw off there traceing.

Sep 14, 2005, 06:05 PM	#1
Iria DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 7,275 Rep Power: 89	Can Spies Decipher Keyboard Clicks? Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, have found a way to turn the clicks and clacks of typing on a computer keyboard into a startlingly accurate transcript of what exactly is being typed. In a paper released last week, the researchers explained how they developed software that could analyze the sound of someone typing on a keyboard for just ten minutes and then piece together as much as 96 percent of what had been typed. The technique works because of the simple fact that the sound of someone striking an "a" key is different from the sound of striking the "t," according to Doug Tygar, a professor of computer science at Berkeley. "Think of a Congo drum. If you hit a Congo drum on different parts of the skin, it makes a different tone," he said. "That's an analogy for what's happening here, because there's a plate underneath the keyboard [that is] being struck in different locations." __________ Read More / Source: PC World

Sep 15, 2005, 07:01 PM	#2
Paradox Enigma Lurker Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Planet Earth (I think) Posts: 126 Rep Power: 0	...and you'll see this "trick" in a future Hollywood spy thriller movie... __________________ ...thread killer...

Sep 15, 2005, 07:16 PM	#3
riles9262 Driverheaven brewmaster Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: British Columbia, Canada Posts: 4,842 Rep Power: 72 System Specs	...starring bruce willis I'm sure... __________________ A beer a day keeps the doctor away.

Sep 16, 2005, 12:18 AM	#5
Zelig HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Canada Posts: 3,187 Rep Power: 71 System Specs	Hah, they'd have great results with my Dvorak layout I bet. __________________ --

Sep 16, 2005, 12:26 AM	#6
Dark Lord HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Grand Rapids, MI Posts: 5,945 Rep Power: 125 System Specs	i just cant imagine this would work well. every diffrent make/model of keyboard is diffrent then the others. the material its made out of, thickness, spring resistance, so on and so forth. the sounds would be diffrent for every keyboard, it would throw off there traceing. __________________