Do you still wear headphones that are wired? You are in serious danger, so exercise caution
The majority of users have shifted to wireless headphones, which pair with our gadgets through Bluetooth. The analog audio jack is actually already being removed by some manufacturers from their latest tablets, computers, and cell phones. Some people, though, are unwilling to give up cables. If that describes you, exercise caution as you may be vulnerable to hackers.
Even though a sizable percentage of users have moved to wireless headphones, wired headphones still have benefits that some people are unwilling to forgo. They are usually a more cost-effective choice, to start. Although Bluetooth headphones are becoming more and more affordable, wired models typically last longer and are less likely to break. Furthermore, they do not require continuous charging.
Users who choose wired headphones should be aware that hackers use them to steal data via mobile devices, regardless of their motivation for not switching to wireless headphones. The cable could be used as an antenna by some cybercriminals. In order to determine whether devices connected to wired headphones are compromised, researchers have created a new electronic espionage system called Periscope that uses electromagnetic radiation.
To listen to audio, the cables can be used as an antenna.
A study by the University of Texas at Arlington (USA) and Hunan University (China) claims that their Periscope technique can intercept audio coming from laptops, iPhones, and Android phones' headphones. This implies that cybercriminals may be able to record your conversations if you are using wired headphones to make a voice or video call or listening to WhatsApp audio.
Researchers have found that when personal computers and smartphones process audio signals, they produce electromagnetic radiation through cables. It is important to remember that hackers must be nearby in order to operate on something like Periscope. The audio signal is amplified by cables, which function similarly to antennas but are not very effective. They discovered during their investigation that sound coming from wired headphones can be picked up up to 15 meters away.
Audio intercepted from 15 meters away would not be clearly audible, according to experts from Texas and Hunan. However, distortion and noise can be eliminated with a little practice. They were able to completely reconstruct what their instruments had recorded in their experiments using the Periscope app. They came to the conclusion that, at 7.44%, the error rate was insignificant.
It is best to have a private conversation in a room where no one can hear you or without wired headphones if you are giving personal information that could be used to steal your identity, money, or something similar. You will not have to use your headphones as an antenna this way.
Moreoreormation on this PDF sheet.