Hackers access to the microphone phones can learn the password

science and technology

Experts from England and Sweden have shown how hacked microphones can be used to learn the sound of writing on the smart phone screen and any keys pressed, and then steal the password that opens your phone.

Researchers from the University of Cambridge in England and the University of Linchoping in Sweden have provided 45 participants with Android devices and smart phones that have been hacked into the microphone, and then recorded their writing on the screen.

The researchers worked through an algorithm to learn which buttons were pressed, correctly decoding 31 out of 50 four-digit entries, in just 10 attempts based on recordings made from participants in the study while writing on the screen.

The algorithm can do this because each touch on the screen creates sound waves that move to the phone microphone across the screen and the air.

These attacks are specifically launched on the microphone by the hackers when the unintended user downloads the malware, so users should keep their safety safe using only trusted applications, and restricting microphone access to the applications you need only will also help make your smartphone more secure.