The InjectEave research presented at USENIX Security 2026 showed that electromagnetic signals can expose audio information from the analog circuits of devices as leakage. The researchers examined 11 devices:
- Wired and wireless headphones
- Landline phones
- Smart fans
- Lamps
The measurements showed a range of 5 meters for the Sony ZX110AP, 1 meter for Apple Earbuds, and up to 6 meters for two wireless headphone models. 30 meters was given only as the upper limit under enhanced conditions. The experiments were conducted in controlled laboratory scenarios; no evidence was presented that the method has been used in widespread attacks.
Why it matters
The study indicates that audio information can be exposed not only through devices’ direct communication channels but also through electromagnetic leakage generated in analog circuits. This means that different devices, such as headphones, landline phones, smart fans, and lamps, need to be considered as points where audio-related information could emerge unexpectedly. The implications of the findings for users cannot be explained through a single risk level, since the measured distances vary from device to device and the upper limit was observed only under enhanced conditions. However, the fact that the experiments were limited to the laboratory and that there is no evidence that the method has been used in widespread attacks indicates that its real-world applicability remains an open question.
Background
Bluetooth is not a new name in the FikirPilot archive: we published a news report mentioning the name in the past 90 days; that article was dated September 15, 2026.