Optical Espionage: Using Lasers to Hear Keystrokes Through Glass Windows

Learn advanced espionage techniques through a 46-minute DEF CON conference talk that explores how to intercept keystrokes through glass windows using laser technology. Discover the physics behind various forms of energy transmission including infrared, visible and ultraviolet light, radio waves, ultrasound, mechanical vibration and temperature, and how these can be exploited to extract information from air-gapped systems. Explore historical side-channel and TEMPEST attacks used by intelligence agencies like the NSA and KGB, while gaining practical knowledge about electrical and optical components used in modern eavesdropping operations. Master the art of distinguishing meaningful signals from background noise, and understand how electromagnetic radiation can be both intercepted and injected into target systems. Gain hands-on insights into state-of-the-art surveillance methods that require no prior technical expertise.