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2 May 2008

Hackers 'turning towards hardware'


A number of computer hackers have begun creating malicious hardware which is much more difficult to detect than software-based malware, it has been warned.

A research team from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, explained that control of a computer system can be gained by adding malicious circuits to its processor which are effectively invisible to any software security that may be present.

Talking to New Scientist Magazine, Dr Samuel King, leader of the research, explained that the introduction of new circuits to a processor would allow for the bypass of security controls in the same way that a virus works, but without the need for a software vulnerability to be exploited.

"Once you have this mechanism in place, you can do whatever you want," said King, before adding that it would not be easy to add malicious hardware to the processor and that attackers would need access either during the design or manufacture of the chips.

Simha Sethumadhavan, a computer scientist from Columbia University, New York, added that the growing complexity of processors would make it easier for a hacker to infiltrate their design without being detected. <br/>

© 2006 Adfero Ltd.

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