Sound of typing could be key for hackers

 Hackers are able to work out your passwords just from the sound of your keystrokes, a new study has revealed.

The latest cyber threat involves criminals eavesdropping on their victim’s keyboard strokes. In tests, researchers were able to detect what was being typed with remarkable accuracy using just a smartphone.

It could be a major threat to people who use laptops in public places such as cafes, libraries and on trains.

Cybersecurity experts from Southern Methodist University in Texas found that soundwaves produced when we type can be picked up by a smartphone.

The acoustic signals intercepted by the phone can then be processed, allowing a skilled hacker to decipher which keys were struck.

The researchers were able to decode much of what was being typed using common keyboards and smartphones – even in a noisy conference room.

The study was published in science journal Interactive, Mobile, Wearable and Ubiquitous Technologies.