air-gap computers

A 2024 research paper details a method for extracting secrets from air-gapped computers by decoding radio signals emitted from RAM, bypassing the physical isolation meant to keep such machines secure. The work shows that even disconnected systems can leak sensitive data, prompting discussion about how well air-gap defences actually hold up against sophisticated attacks.

Researchers have published a paper on arXiv describing a covert channel that can extract secrets from air-gapped computers by modulating radio signals from the machines' RAM. The technique spells out data as radio emissions that a nearby receiver can pick up, even though the target computer has no network connection. It highlights a persistent weakness in physically isolated systems used for high-security data.