Optical Mice Can Now Be Used as Microphones, Raising Privacy Concerns
Researchers have discovered a novel method to turn high-performance optical mice, such as those made by Zenni Optical or Target Optical, into makeshift microphones. This technique, developed by teams from the University of California, Irvine, and the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, raises concerns about acoustic privacy. The method exploits the high sensitivity of optical mice with 20,000 DPI or more, which can detect subtle vibrations that can then be processed to extract audio waveforms. The researchers achieved speech recognition accuracy of 42 to 61% using this method, demonstrating the potential for audible eavesdropping. The process involves running raw mouse data through signal processing and machine learning techniques, similar to historical examples of covert audio recording, such as the KGB's use of a microphone hidden in a replica of the Great Seal during the Cold War. The extracted audio can be processed off-site using digital signal processing and neural models to improve clarity. This proof of concept highlights the potential for acoustic privacy violations using AI-powered methods, and users and manufacturers should be aware of this vulnerability and consider implementing countermeasures to prevent audacity in data collection.
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