These computers are part of what is known as an air-gap network. This strategy is often used by organizations — governments, corporations and others — with extremely sensitive data to minimize the risk of that data being released.
However, the Ben-Gurion researchers found that infecting one of these air-gap network computers with a particular virus can cause the computer to transmit data over an FM radio frequency, which may be wirelessly accessed via cell phone.
The danger of this type of hack is minimal, as the air-gap network computers would have to be infected first, likely with an USB stick. However, the research drives home the point that it is extremely difficult to secure data in the wireless age.
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