# Accuracy Enhancement of Electromagnetic Side-channel Attacks on Computer Monitors

Canonical URL: https://markscanlon.co/publications/EMAttacksComputerMonitors

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BibTeX: https://markscanlon.co/publications/EMAttacksComputerMonitors.bib
RIS: https://markscanlon.co/publications/EMAttacksComputerMonitors.ris

Authors: Asanka Sayakkara; Nhien-An Le-Khac; Mark Scanlon
Venue: The Second International Workshop on Criminal Use of Information Hiding (CUING), part of the 13th International Conference on Availability, Reliability and Security (ARES)
Year: 2018
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1145/3230833.3234690
PDF: https://markscanlon.co/publications/EMAttacksComputerMonitors.pdf
Full text: https://markscanlon.co/publications/EMAttacksComputerMonitors.full.md

## Contribution Summary

This study examines the accuracy of electromagnetic side-channel attacks on computer monitors, exploring factors beyond sampling rate and bandwidth. The authors investigate the impact of noise removal, image blending, and image quality adjustments on image reconstruction accuracy. They discuss the challenges associated with image quality enhancement with limited sampling rates, including image frame misalignments and outlier detection. The paper highlights the need for further research to improve the process and presents potential avenues for future improvements in EM side-channel attacks on computer monitors.

## Abstract

Electromagnetic noise emitted from running computer displays modulates information about the picture frames being displayed on screen. Attacks have been demonstrated on eavesdropping computer displays by utilising these emissions as a side-channel vector. The accuracy of reconstructing a screen image depends on the emission sampling rate and bandwidth of the attackers signal acquisition hardware. The cost of radio frequency acquisition hardware increases with increased supported frequency range and bandwidth. A number of enthusiast-level, affordable software defined radio equipment solutions are currently available facilitating a number of radio-focused attacks at a more reasonable price point. This work investigates three accuracy influencing factors, other than the sample rate and bandwidth, namely noise removal, image blending, and image quality adjustments, that affect the accuracy of monitor image reconstruction through electromagnetic side-channel attacks.