12,438 research outputs found
Unified Description for Network Information Hiding Methods
Until now hiding methods in network steganography have been described in
arbitrary ways, making them difficult to compare. For instance, some
publications describe classical channel characteristics, such as robustness and
bandwidth, while others describe the embedding of hidden information. We
introduce the first unified description of hiding methods in network
steganography. Our description method is based on a comprehensive analysis of
the existing publications in the domain. When our description method is applied
by the research community, future publications will be easier to categorize,
compare and extend. Our method can also serve as a basis to evaluate the
novelty of hiding methods proposed in the future.Comment: 24 pages, 7 figures, 1 table; currently under revie
BitWhisper: Covert Signaling Channel between Air-Gapped Computers using Thermal Manipulations
It has been assumed that the physical separation (air-gap) of computers
provides a reliable level of security, such that should two adjacent computers
become compromised, the covert exchange of data between them would be
impossible. In this paper, we demonstrate BitWhisper, a method of bridging the
air-gap between adjacent compromised computers by using their heat emissions
and built-in thermal sensors to create a covert communication channel. Our
method is unique in two respects: it supports bidirectional communication, and
it requires no additional dedicated peripheral hardware. We provide
experimental results based on implementation of BitWhisper prototype, and
examine the channel properties and limitations. Our experiments included
different layouts, with computers positioned at varying distances from one
another, and several sensor types and CPU configurations (e.g., Virtual
Machines). We also discuss signal modulation and communication protocols,
showing how BitWhisper can be used for the exchange of data between two
computers in a close proximity (at distance of 0-40cm) at an effective rate of
1-8 bits per hour, a rate which makes it possible to infiltrate brief commands
and exfiltrate small amount of data (e.g., passwords) over the covert channel
A Survey of Techniques for Improving Security of GPUs
Graphics processing unit (GPU), although a powerful performance-booster, also
has many security vulnerabilities. Due to these, the GPU can act as a
safe-haven for stealthy malware and the weakest `link' in the security `chain'.
In this paper, we present a survey of techniques for analyzing and improving
GPU security. We classify the works on key attributes to highlight their
similarities and differences. More than informing users and researchers about
GPU security techniques, this survey aims to increase their awareness about GPU
security vulnerabilities and potential countermeasures
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