Skip to main content

Targeting flatbed scanners could allow hackers to break into secure "air-gapped" computer systems

Like some geeky, tech-savvy version of the Circle of Life song from The Lion King, there’s a never-ending feedback loop between the ingenuity of hackers and security-minded researchers’ attempts to think one step ahead of them.

The latest example comes courtesy of researchers from the Cyber Security Research Center at Israel’s Ben-Gurion University, who have conceived of a method by which hackers could bypass firewalls and intrusion-detection systems by hacking flatbed scanners using a laser-toting drone.

Recommended Videos

“This work presents a way in which an organization’s scanner can be used as a gateway for the purpose of communication under the radar with previously installed malware, even on isolated networks, with an outside attacker using a laser,” Ben Nassi, a graduate student at the Cyber Security Research Center, who was a co-author on a paper describing the method, told Digital Trends. “In addition, it shows how trying to hide the scanner from the line of sight won’t help because an Internet of Things device that’s located nearby can be hijacked and used as a means to module the command to the scanner.”

The method is effective from a distance of 900 meters using lasers that can be easily purchased online from places like eBay. Using the technique, the researchers were able to achieve data transmission rates of 25-50 milliseconds per bit. No, that’s not going to match your broadband download speed, but it’s enough to send commands that could control a bot on an isolated “air-gapped” system, meaning one that’s not otherwise connected to the outside world.

The attack does require that malware is first installed on a system somehow, but after that it could be commanded in certain terrifying ways — such as Nassi’s uncomfortable examples of “shutdown system” or “launch missile.”

So if simply moving your flatbed scanner out of line of sight won’t work, what does he suggest as a possible solution? “We suggest you disconnect the scanner from the network and use via a proxy computer that will be monitored by a model that has learned to identify the attack,” he continued. “That way anyone trying to send a message to the organization will be detected and prevented.”

While this may seem extra-cautious, when you’re dealing with computer systems that can potentially cause massive amounts of damage — either by controlling systems we rely on or through the leaking of sensitive data — you really can’t be too careful.

We bet you’ll never look at your innocuous flatbed scanner the same way again!

Luke Dormehl
I'm a UK-based tech writer covering Cool Tech at Digital Trends. I've also written for Fast Company, Wired, the Guardian…
Sebastian Stan lays out Bucky’s future after Thunderbolts
Sebastian Stan in Thunderbolts.

There are some spoilers ahead for the ending of Marvel's Thunderbolts. Stop reading now if you don't want to be spoiled.

Earlier this year, Captain America: Brave New World briefly introduced a new direction for James "Bucky" Barnes, a character Sebastian Stan has been playing since 2011 in Captain America: The First Avenger. In Brave New World, the former Winter Soldier apparently retired from being a reformed hero and went into politics by running for Congress. Thunderbolts reveals that Bucky won his election to the House of Representatives. But his stay in Congress was short.

Read more
Jeep Compass EV breaks cover—but will it come to the U.S.?
jeep compass ev us newjeepcompassfirsteditionhawaii  4

Jeep just pulled the wraps off the all-new Compass EV, and while it’s an exciting leap into the electric future, there's a catch—it might not make it to the U.S. anytime soon.
This is a brand new electric version of the Jeep Compass, and being built on Stellantis' STLA platform—the same architecture underpinning models like the Peugeot E-3008 and E-5008—it looks much slicker and packs a lot more inside than previous versions of the Compass.
Let’s start with what’s cool: the new Compass EV is packing up to 404 miles of range on a single charge, a 74 kWh battery, and fast-charging that gets you from 20% to 80% in about 30 minutes. Not bad for a compact SUV with Jeep's badge on the nose.
There are two versions: a front-wheel-drive model with 213 horsepower and a beefier all-wheel-drive version with 375 horsepower. That AWD setup isn’t just for looks—it can handle 20% inclines even without front traction, and comes with extra ground clearance and better off-road angles. In short, it’s still a Jeep.
The design's been refreshed too, and inside you’ll find the kind of tech and comfort you’d expect in a modern EV—sleek, smart, and ready for both city streets and dirt trails.
But here’s the thing: even though production starts soon in Italy, Jeep hasn’t said whether the Compass EV is coming to America. And the signs aren’t promising.
Plans to build it in Canada were recently put on hold, with production now delayed until at least early 2026. Some of that might have to do with possible U.S. tariffs on Canadian and Mexican vehicles—adding a layer of uncertainty to the whole rollout.
According to Kelley Blue Book, a Stellantis spokesperson confirmed that the company has “temporarily paused work on the next-generation Jeep Compass, including activities at” the Canadian plant that was originally meant to build the model. They added that Stellantis is “reassessing its product strategy in North America” to better match customer needs and demand for different powertrain options.
So while Europe and other markets are gearing up to get the Compass EV soon, American drivers might be left waiting—or miss out entirely.
That’s a shame, because on paper, this electric Jeep hits a lot of sweet spots. Let’s just hope it finds a way over here.

Read more
Charlie Cox singles out his least favorite Daredevil: Born Again episode
Charlie Cox in Daredevil: Born Again.

Daredevil: Born Again season 1 was largely reconceived after the 2023 actor and writer strikes. Dario Scardapane -- a veteran of The Punisher series on Netflix -- was brought in to be the new showrunner and he made a lot of changes to the series that were well-received. However, there's one episode that Scardapane didn't really change at all, and it happens to be the least favorite episode of Daredevil: Born Again's leading man, Charlie Cox.

During an appearance on The Playlist, Cox noted that he wasn't very fond of the season's fifth episode, "With Interest," which was a largely standalone episode that featured his character, Matt Murdock, in a bank during a hostage crisis.

Read more