Mouse Eavesdropping Flaw Turns Mice into Mics

Researchers have uncovered a groundbreaking vulnerability named "Mic-E-Mouse" that transforms high-performance computer mice into covert listening devices. The attack exploits sensitive optical sensors to detect minute acoustic vibrations traveling through work surfaces, effectively capturing nearby conversations. Using advanced signal processing and machine learning, attackers can reconstruct intelligible speech from the collected mouse movement data. The exploit can be hidden within legitimate software, such as video games, that require high-frequency mouse input, making it invisible to the average user. This discovery reveals a significant new surveillance threat, turning a common computer peripheral into a sophisticated eavesdropping tool.