Hackers can attack you even when you're not online: Researchers

Hackers reveal how to steal offline data in seconds using a mobile

• Experts carried out the hack with a Samsung Galaxy S3 and Lenovo laptop
• Laptop was set up so that it was 'air gapped', or not connected to the web
• This technique is supposed to prevent it from being hackable 
• However, the computer still emits electromagnetic radiation which can be interpreted by a nearby mobile phone.
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Researchers have stolen data from a laptop that was not connected to the internet using a mobile phone in a nearby room.

The hackers used the electromagnetic waves from the laptop to access information on an encryption key in just three seconds.

The hack could have implications for computer security as mobiles could easily get into places where sensitive data is being held.

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Researchers have stolen data from a laptop that was not connected to the internet using a mobile phone in a nearby room. The hackers used the electromagnetic waves from the laptop to access information on an encryption key in just three seconds (stock image)

Employees at places such as nuclear power plants are banned from using thumb drives to stop them stealing data, but now they may have to hand in their mobile phones too.

In the experiment, the Israeli researchers carried out the hack using a Samsung Galaxy S3 and a Lenovo 3000 N20 laptop, a model which is commonly used by businesses.