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Imagine that you are in a cafe with your tablet. You enter the secret code to reach one of your favorite online services. You are using a software anti-spyware protection. There is no risk for anyone to see what you type, is not it? Error! Five security researchers have recently shown that it is possible to guess the letters which a user types just by filming a few meters, and this with basic equipment such as a webcam or a smartphone.
Indeed, scientists have developed a method of image analysis that allows them to identify with sufficient precision the place where the fingers landing on the touch screen then, by comparison with a pre-established scrim, to infer the characters. And that, whatever the angle of shooting.
Researchers carried a series of tests in "natural environment". At a distance of two meters, the detection is made with 100% success. This rate down to 80% between three and four meters, then becomes 50% beyond.
How to protect themselves against this type of attack? Easy, say the researchers, it is necessary to systematize the use of virtual keyboards where the location of the keys is random, as it already exists on some banking applications. Well, of course, to write a text, it is not convenient, but to enter a password that is acceptable.
Below, The analysis of five researchers:
