Electromagnetic Wave Can Hack Siri, Google Now

TEMPO.CO, Paris - A team of researchers at ANSSI, France national security agency, have proven that hackers can silently trigger voice commands on Android or iOS phones if the device has Siri or Google Now enabled, and headphone plugged into its jack.

The trick exploits headphone as an antenna and the headphone’s cord to convert electromagnetic wave into electrical signals that appears to the phone’s operating system to be an audio coming from the microphone.

With this trick, a hacker can send commands to Siri or Google Now to make phone calls, send text message, dialing the hacker’s phone to make a tapping device, opening browser to access malware sites and even send spam and phising messages through email, Facebook or Twitter.

The researchers used relatively simple-designed device to produce the electromagnetic wave using laptop, GNU Radio open source siftwares, USRP radio, amplifier and antenna. It is said that the device can be made as small as backpack-fit that can cover 1.98-meter distance.

WIRE | ERWIN Z