2014/10/01 by Mordechai Guri, Gabi Kedma, Assaf Kachlon +1 · 2 citations
Computer Science · #Advanced Malware Detection Techniques #Cryptographic Implementations and Security #Network Security and Intrusion Detection #Bridging (networking) #Malware #Computer science #Byte #Computer security #Android (operating system) #Computer network #Software #Telecommunications #Computer hardware #Operating system
paper · doi:10.1109/malware.2014.6999418
openalex publication_date 2014/10/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/29
Information is the most critical asset of modern organizations, and accordingly coveted by adversaries. When highly sensitive data is involved, an organization may resort to air-gap isolation, in which there is no networking connection between the inner network and the external world. While infiltrating an air-gapped network has been proven feasible in recent years (e.g., Stuxnet), data exfiltration from an air-gapped network is still considered to be one of the most challenging phases of an advanced cyber-attack. In this paper we present "AirHopper", a bifurcated malware that bridges the air-gap between an isolated network and nearby infected mobile phones using FM signals. While it is known that software can intentionally create radio emissions from a video display unit, this is the first time that mobile phones are considered in an attack model as the intended receivers of maliciously crafted radio signals. We examine the attack model and its limitations, and discuss implementation considerations such as stealth and modulation methods. Finally, we evaluate AirHopper and demonstrate how textual and binary data can be exfiltrated from physically isolated computer to mobile phones at a distance of 1-7 meters, with effective bandwidth of 13-60 Bps (Bytes per second).