Microsoft wireless keyboard with 128-bit AES encryption

Microsoft's new wireless keyboard and mouse combo supports 128-bit AES encryption
Source: Microsoft Microsoft has announced the release of a new wireless mouse and keyboard combo that incorporates 128-bit Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) encryption. According to a post on the Microsoft Hardware Blog by Senior Product Marketing Manager Suneel Goud, the new Wireless Desktop 2000 wireless mouse and keyboard combo allows users to securely transmit their keystrokes over-the-air to their computer without having to worry about the information being intercepted.

While it isn't a common practice, in the past criminals have used wireless sniffing techniques to intercept data sent between keyboards and their wireless receivers. In 2007, for example, a security firm found a way to sniff the data traffic between Microsoft's wireless keyboards and their base stations: unauthorised parties were reportedly able to record and decrypt all keystrokes from several of Microsoft's wireless keyboards. Encrypting the wireless transmission will not protect against hardware or software keyloggers.

The keyboard is paired with the Wireless Mouse 2000, which includes Microsoft's BlueTrack Technology. The Wireless Desktop 2000 supports Windows XP (excluding 64-bit), Vista and Windows 7, as well as Mac OS X 10.4 and later.

The Wireless Desktop 2000 wireless mouse and keyboard combo has a manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) of $39.99. At the time of writing, the new keyboard and mouse combo is not yet listed on Microsoft's UK Keyboard Products web page.

See also:

• Hardware keyloggers found in public libraries, a report from The H.
• Hacking with USB keyboard emulators, a report from The H.

(crve)