A method to convert optical mouse vibrations into audio data has been developed, with the accuracy to enable eavesdropping on commercially available mice
A group of researchers at the University of California, Irvine, has come up with a way to use the sensors in an optical mouse to pick up subtle vibrations and convert them into audible data. They've dubbed this technique ' Mic-E-Mouse .'
Mic-E-Mouse
Motion sensors in high-performance mice can be used as a microphone to spy on users, thanks to AI — Mic-E-Mouse technique harnesses mouse sensors, converts acoustic vibrations into speech | Tom's Hardware
https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/cyber-security/high-performance-mice-can-be-used-as-a-microphone-to-spy-on-users-thanks-to-ai-mic-e-mouse-technique-uses-mouse-sensors-to-convert-acoustic-vibrations-into-speech
A demonstration video of the 'Mic-E-Mouse' is available on YouTube.
Mic-E-Mouse Pipeline Demonstration - YouTube
The mouse is placed where the man is counting up the numbers, '1, 2 ...'.
The sensor inside this mouse picks up vibrations, and the raw data is far from audio.
The Mic-E-Mouse's unique feature is the subsequent stage, where a pipeline of continuous signal processing and machine learning techniques reconstructs the audio, allowing the numbers the man was reading to be heard.
According to the research team, the audio eavesdropping technique used in the Mic-E-Mouse is easily possible with sensors found in consumer mice, and as processing technology and sensor performance improve, even cheaper mice may be targeted.
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