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Side-Channel Attacks via HDMI and AI: An Emerging Threat
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Understanding the Impact and Evolution of Side-Channel Attacks in Modern Cybersecurity
Side-channel attacks, also known as side-channel exploitation, involve intercepting electromagnetic emissions from HDMI cables to capture and reconstruct the data displayed on a screen. These attacks, which were previously limited to analog signals like VGA, have now become possible on digital signals thanks to advances in artificial intelligence.
A group of researchers from the University of the Republic in Montevideo, Uruguay, recently demonstrated that even digital signals, once considered more secure, can be intercepted and analyzed to reconstruct what is displayed on the screen. Their research, published under the title “Deep-TEMPEST: Using Deep Learning to Eavesdrop on HDMI from its Unintended Electromagnetic Emanations”, is available on the arXiv preprint server (ar5iv).
Complementing this, Freemindtronic, a company specializing in cybersecurity, has also published articles on side-channel attacks. Their work highlights different forms of these attacks, such as acoustic or thermal emissions, and proposes advanced strategies for protection. You can explore their research and recommendations for a broader understanding of the threats associated with side-channel attacks by following this link: Freemindtronic – Side-Channel Attacks.
Freemindtronic Solutions for Combating Side-Channel Attacks via HDMI
Freemindtronic’s PassCypher and DataShielder product lines incorporate advanced hardware security technologies, such as NFC HSM (Hardware Security Module) or HSM PGP containers, to provide enhanced protection against side-channel attacks.
How Do These Products Protect Against HDMI Attacks?
Freemindtronic’s PassCypher and DataShielder product lines incorporate advanced hardware security technologies, such as NFC HSM (Hardware Security Module) or HSM PGP containers, to provide enhanced protection against side-channel attacks.
- PassCypher NFC HSM and PassCypher HSM PGP: These devices are designed to secure sensitive data exchanges using advanced cryptographic algorithms considered post-quantum, and secure key management methods through segmentation. Thanks to their hybrid HSM architecture, these devices ensure that cryptographic keys always remain in a secure environment, protected from both external and internal attacks, including those attempting to capture electromagnetic signals via HDMI. Even if an attacker managed to intercept signals, they would be unusable without direct access to the cryptographic keys, which remain encrypted even during use. Furthermore, credentials and passwords are decrypted only ephemerally in volatile memory, just long enough for auto-login and decryption.
- DataShielder NFC HSM: This product goes even further by combining hardware encryption with NFC (Near Field Communication) technology. DataShielder NFC HSM is specifically designed to secure communications between phones and computers or exclusively on phones, ensuring that encryption keys are encrypted from the moment of creation and decrypted only in a secure environment. The messages remain encrypted throughout. This means that even if data were intercepted via a side-channel attack, it would remain indecipherable without the decryption keys stored within the HSM. Additionally, the NFC technology limits the communication range, reducing the risk of remote interception, as even the information transmitted via the NFC channel is encrypted with other segmented keys.
Why Are These Products Effective Against HDMI Attacks?
- Segmented Cryptographic Key Protection: The hybrid HSMs integrated into these products ensure that cryptographic keys never leave the secure environment of the module. Even if an attacker were to capture HDMI signals, without access to the keys, the data would remain protected.
- Encryption from NFC HSM or HSM PGP: Hybrid encryption, using keys stored in a secure enclave, is far more secure than software-only encryption because it is less likely to be bypassed by side-channel attacks. The PassCypher and DataShielder solutions use advanced AES-256 CBC PGP encryption, making it much harder for attackers to succeed.
- Electromagnetic Isolation: These devices are designed to minimize electromagnetic emissions as much as possible and only on demand in milliseconds, making side-channel attacks extremely difficult to implement. Moreover, the data exchanged is encrypted within the NFC signal, significantly reducing the “attack surface” for electromagnetic signals. This prevents attackers from capturing exploitable signals.
- Limitation of Communications: With NFC technology, communications are intentionally limited to short distances, greatly complicating attempts to intercept data remotely.
In summary
Freemindtronic’s PassCypher NFC HSM, PassCypher HSM PGP, and DataShielder NFC HSM products offer robust protection against side-channel attacks via HDMI. By integrating hardware security modules, advanced encryption algorithms, and limiting communications to very short distances, these devices ensure high-level security, essential for sensitive environments where data must be protected against all forms of attacks, including those using side-channel techniques.
To learn more about these products and discover how they can enhance your system’s security, visit Freemindtronic’s product pages:
