Posted on 05/23/2015 9:46:54 AM PDT by Enlightened1
A new Chrome extension, called Google Tone, released this week makes it possible to share a URL with another computer in the room using a series of beeps and boops. The concept is dead simple yet instantly instills a sense of disbelief. A computer making seemingly random sounds can transmit the URL for the tab I have open in Chrome across the room? Get out.
Full of skepticism, I decided to put it to the test. I installed the Chrome extension on a MacBook Air and a HP laptop running Windows 10. And you know what? It works! Click on the blue megaphone icon, some noise is made, and a few seconds later the link is available across the room on another computer.
(Excerpt) Read more at popsci.com ...
URLs and bank accounts, SS#s, etc.
This will give the NSA a new way to track what you are doing on the internet. Just plant microphones to pick up the audibly transmitted code.
Back in the day, we used to call that a modem.
Old technology. No different than an acoustic modem.
Airgap? What’s that? SMH.
Presumably you get to select what you transmit, but someone will figure out how to hack it to send sensitive information.
LOL, it is all on the wheel man. What is old is new again!
I have to admit, I got a huge kick out of this one.
In the middle of the 1970’s they made modems with rubber cups so that you could plug your phone handset into it. We didn’t have a LAN in the office. Each terminal (NOT A PC!) would plug into the modem. Every office had an extra telephone just for the terminal connection. Using this we could logon to our mainframe time sharing accounts where we did our work.
Yep it just the old acoustically coupled modem without the rubber cups
So, if I'm reading this right, someone with the 'right' tones could have your computer surf websites you might not ordinarily go to in your absence?
Not far from creating a web surfing history for anyone (to be used as evidence against them?)
Anything from jealous co-workers to unscrupulous police could load you up with a 'pattern' of web surfing to use as supporting evidence of your 'nefarious' lifestyle? (and possible prosecution or civil suit).
How many more control codes are there?
Morse Code anyone?
You can very easily send data using light or sound.
No problemo, an old trick.
Bingo it’s a back door.
If you authorize this program, then it’s another way to hack your computer.
Don’t ever get it or authorize it.
In the audio band???
A sneeky dude would make the beeps and boops above the audio band.
This is old tech to the NSA. Snowden revealed they have been doing this for years.
Anyone recall when desktop computers had little speakers you heard the dialup modem's handshake while it connected and the tinfoil crowd swore it was also a microphone? Yeesh.
Now, whether the PC's electronics were enabled to take input from the speaker port is another story.
FYI, many current laptops come with an integrated microphone
I have seen control signals transmitted over a string. Speaker on one end and a phonograph cartridge on the other. A string went from the speaker to the phono needle on the other. They were mounted in oatmeal containers. Thus, the "Oat-o-Phone" was born.
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