Lamphone is a clever, optical, side-channel attack that can turn a simple lightbulb into a makeshift microphone. It works because the filament inside a lightbulb subtly vibrates in response to sound waves, like someone talking. These tiny vibrations change the amount of light the bulb emits. By pointing a light sensor or photodiode at the bulb from a distance, a lamphone attack can detect these variations in brightness and convert them back into audio signals, effectively “listening in” on conversations without touching the microphone or the room.

It’s a striking example of how everyday objects can be exploited for surveillance, showing that even something as mundane as a lamp can leak information if you know what to look for.

#OpticalPhreaking #SideChannelAttack #CyberSecurity #Privacy #InformationLeak