A UK research team based at Durham University has identified an exploit that could allow attackers to figure out what you type on your MacBook Pro — based on the sound each keyboard tap makes.
These kinds of attacks aren’t particularly new. The researchers found research dating back to the 1950s into using acoustics to identify what people write. They also note that the first paper detailing use of such an attack surface was written for the US National Security Agency (NSA) in 1972, prompting speculation such attacks may already be in place.
“(The) governmental origin of AS- CAs creates speculation that such an attack may already be possible on modern devices, but remains classified,” the researchers wrote.
There’s little doubt that if the US and UK governments have been exploring such exploits, others will be, too.
How the attack works
As reported by Bleeping Computer, the UK security researchers figured out how to identify what you type with an accuracy of up to 95%. The attack, which uses a combination of audio and AI, is not confined to Macs.
The exploit is explained in greater detail here, but it isn’t completely straightforward. The attacker needs to calibrate the sound of your keys to the relevant character first in order to train the AI. That means identifying the specific sound of each key press, though this could be achieved during a Zoom conversation if you happen to be typing in chat while your Mac keyboard is audible to others in the meeting.
Once the attack algorithm matches each sound to each key, the research claims it will capture what you type. “The researchers gathered training data by pressing 36 keys on a modern MacBook Pro 25 times each and recording the sound produced by each press,” the white paper explains.
What this means
At its simplest, the nature of such attacks means that if someone can access your computer and record that training data — or can find some other way to listen to and identify the sound your keyboard makes when you type — they can use AI to monitor your work quite accurately. All they need is to be able to listen.
The microphone used to listen can be the one you leave on in Zoom, the one inside a hacked smartphone, or an app with access to the microphone in abuse of the privacy agreement you expect from that app. The mic could even be a conventional snooping device, and once it’s in place, the deep learning algorithm could allow attackers to gain access to sensitive data, passwords, and more.
What next?
Concerning as the exploit might seem, it is also a good illustration of how AI can be used in novel ways to undermine security perimeters in new ways. This will become even more problematic as the cost of quantum computing declines, because those machines can churn through data so much faster than the computers we use today.
In theory, these quantum computers could break the cryptographic keys upon which the internet depends in a few hours, meaning traditional passcodes are a relative snap to exploit.
The researchers speculate that topics might include the use of smart speakers to help in keyboard strike classification (that’s what I call Siri Sleuthing), or the addition of generative AI-style LLM models to improve keystroke recognition.
Acoustic attacks of this nature are also much easier to pull off because so many devices now have built-in microphones, while AI research continues to evolve. Even Apple has a patent for a lip-reading Siri. What seems to be required is a determination to protect privacy first, but the will for this seems to be missing in some key quarters.
What you can do
There are some mitigations that could help counter such attacks. Randomized passcodes featuring multiple cases and liberal use of the shift key might help, while touch typing also reduces accuracy, presumably because typists have a relatively consistent cadence when they type. The researchers recommend people try altering their typing style to confuse the algorithm.
Other defenses include white noise, software-based keyboard audio filters, or software to reproduce random keystroke sounds to confuse the algorithm.
I imagine making use of different keyboards with your Mac could also help, while using biometric authentication, password managers, and passkeys could help limit the information attackers seize.
It also makes sense to regularly audit apps across all your devices if they try to claim the right to use your microphone. You never know who might be listening.
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