Malware (GSMem) can add a (not so) nice feature to your computer - It can turn it into a cellular antenna to leak information.

Welcome to the world of "never ending hackovation "(Hacker - Innovation)


From the Article

This attack uses ordinary computer hardware to send out the cellular signals.

The air-gapped computer that is targeted does need to have a malware program developed by the researchers installed. That could be accomplished by creating a type of worm that infects a machine when a removable drive is connected.

The malware, called GSMem, acts as a transmitter on an infected computer. It creates specific, memory-related instructions that are transmitted between a computer's CPU and memory, generating radio waves at GSM, UMTS and LTE frequencies that can be picked up by a nearby mobile device.

malware has such a small footprint in the memory, it would be very difficult and can easily evade detection

(This is interesting) Their receiver was a nine-year-old Motorola C123 so-called "feature" phone, which looks downright ancient compared to mobile phones today. But there are a couple of reasons why they chose it.

Most embassies and many companies ban smartphones from being taken inside their premises, to prevent signals intelligence collection. But some companies, including Intel and defense contractor Lockheed Martin, still allow devices that are not smartphones into sensitive areas



For more info:
http://www.csoonline.com/article/2962328/data-protection/new-malware-turns-your-computer-into-a-cellular-antenna.html