Encrypted Robots Leaking Data

Get it together, robots.

University of Waterloo researchers have shown that companion and service robots can unintentionally leak private information, even when communications are encrypted.

The team discovered that data patterns, like timing and movement signals, can be analyzed to infer what a robot’s camera or sensors are capturing. The findings raise some red flags for healthcare, household, and workplace robots that handle sensitive information.

The researchers call for new privacy safeguards beyond standard encryption to prevent “side-channel” leaks.

"In the robotics community, there’s an increased interest in controlling robots remotely by sending commands over a network. The robot could be anywhere, like a hospital, factory, or another country. Many don’t realize that once these robots are hooked into the network, they are exposed to security risks."

— Dr. Yue Hu

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