COVID-Bit Cyberattack Can Bypass Air-Gapped System says Researchers

There is a notorious cyberattack discovered by researchers from Ben-Gurion University, which the team has discovered via a study. According to their discovery, the so-called "COVID-Bit" cyberattack can access air-gapped computer security systems and have access even to the most sensitive of networks in the world.

The cybersecurity researchers demonstrated how this system could access even the top-rated secured networks in the world with only a USB flash drive, electromagnetic radiation, and a cheap antenna.

COVID-Bit Cyberattack Can Access Air-Gapped, Sensitive Networks

A study published in the preprint website, arXiv, by Ben-Gurion University researchers discovered a new and sophisticated way that threat actors may use to access sensitive, air-gapped systems in the industry.

The researchers dubbed this attack "COVID-Bit," and it needs to have a person stick a physical USB flash drive to a computer system for this to work. While this is a hard thing to do, especially as one needs either to blackmail an employee or retrieve and return their flash drives with the malware already installed, there are ways to make it happen.

After which, the malware will access the computer's CPU cores, which in turn, could generate low-frequency electromagnetic radiation.

Cybersecurity Researchers Look into How it Gains Access

According to ZDNet's report, the threat actors only need to be within two meters of the compromised machine, using only a laptop and a cheap antenna to steal information from it. Electromagnetic radiation can help in transferring files to the intended destinations, already containing sensitive information, passwords, bitcoin wallets, and more.

Cybersecurity and its Help in Preventing Hacks

Cybersecurity is a massive problem in the current technological infrastructure now, especially as the world has already transitioned into a more tech-inclined society with a massive reliance on gadgets and the internet.

People are in danger on almost every aspect of the internet, from bot malware that tries to access one's computer, to targeted attacks to steal data and information.

With these, many cybersecurity experts study and learn more about the current trends in the technology industry to keep up with it and help avoid future problems and access.

In Ukraine's case, investing in cybersecurity played well for the country, especially in this time of modern warfare, and one of the used ways to get ahead of the opposing force is via their networks or computers.

Good thing is that Ukrainians are ready for any attacks that the Russians throw against them, with the latter known for their computer hacking skills.

Studies like what Ben-Gurion University recently discovered are a massive help to those who opt for air-gapped security systems for their computers. Despite having no fix for this problem, the cybersecurity researchers helped in making it known to those who use the same systems, as preventive measures are better than attempting to fix it after access.