HighSecLabs FA10AO-4 Audio Diode User Manual

FA10AO-4 Audio Diode

Product Information

The Audio Diode is the world’s first audio diode that prevents leakage through audio peripherals. It is designed to block hackers from using peripheral audio devices such as headphones, speakers, and microphones to hack into a computer system and steal sensitive information.

The Audio Diode has push buttons that allow basic control of the diode. It is available in different models, including analog to analog, USB to analog, with or without mic support, and with digital camera support. The Audio Diode also features a low-pass filter that blocks high- or low-frequency signal attacks.

Product Usage Instructions

Before using the Audio Diode, ensure that it is properly installed and connected to the host PC. The Audio Diode is easy to install and operate, and users only need to click on the push button(s) to activate it.

To use the Audio Diode:

1. By default, audio peripherals are disconnected, and the buttons are illuminated green.
2. Short or double press on a closed interface will open it for several minutes. A solid red light indicates a non-secure/open diode state.
3. Short or double press on an open interface will close it on demand. A solid green light indicates a secure/closed diode state.
4. About a minute before turning off the speakers/mic, the button light will start flickering red, indicating it’s about to turn off.
5. Long press on an open interface will extend it for a few minutes again.

The Audio Diode allows the user to decide on which peripheral device to use and when. It also sets how long the speaker or mic remains open. The Audio Diode is small in size and takes up almost no room on your desktop. It also features independent speaker and mic support and a configuration tool for easy setup.

The Threats of Using Audio Peripherals

Peripheral audio devices such as headphones, speakers, and microphones can easily be hacked and transformed into a listening device, through which attackers can:

• Listen in to surrounding classified conversations in secure rooms
• Transfer data from secured to unsecured networks

Leakage of a Secure Conversation

Eavesdropping through an unsecured network’s audio devices

• Any speaker can be easily converted to a microphone by attacker’s malicious software
• With proper audio driver modifications, this small signal may be amplified and filtered to enable picking up surrounding conversation.

Leakage of Secure Data
Implanting or capturing data from a PC
Attackers can transfer data from secured to unsecured networks by broadcasting either high- or low-frequency signals from an external hacking device
For example, data leakage through acoustic ultrasonic transmission

HSL’s New Audio Diode Family

• The Audio Diode mitigates the risks of using peripheral audio devices in organizations with multiple isolated networks.
• The device connects between a source PC and a peripheral audio device (speaker/headphone or microphone) and prevents attackers from exploiting audio data-leakage exposure.

How Does it work?

• Unidirectional Audio Flow
  HSL’s audio diode ensures unidirectional audio flow from source to destination (speaker) preventing eavesdropping by a remote attacker.

• Low-Pass Filter
  All sounds passing through the Audio Diode go through a low-pass filter that restricts the audio frequencies to the range compatible only with the human ear.

• Push-Button Control
  Push buttons to activate the speaker/headphone and microphone manually.
  Certain models enable setting when and for how long to activate the audio channel

Models with Buttons
The Audio Diode has push buttons (one – Audio, or two – Audio and Mic) that allows basic control of the diode:

1. By Default audio peripheral are disconnected and buttons are illuminated green

2. Short/Double press on a closed interface will open it for several minutes.
   Solid red light indicates a Non-Secure/Open diode state.

3. Short/Double press on an open interface will close it on demand.
   Solid green light indicates a Secure/Closed diode state.

4. About a minute before turning off the Speakers/Mic, the button light will start flickering red, indicating it’s about to turn off.

5. Long press on an open interface will extend it for a few minutes again.

6. Secure/Safe to Talk

7. Not Secure/Speaker & Mic Open

8. About to close

Products List Table

Audio Diode Models – FA10BC-4

Coming soon
Web Camera Support Secure Audio Diode – FA10BC-4

• Securely Enables Camera session with Microphone and Audio for a limited timeframe when the Camera/Mic button is pressed.
• Separately Enables to open/close Audio session with a speaker button

Audio Diode Models

Highlights Summary

Feature Benefit
Blocks listening in to surrounding conversations low pass filter Blocks high or

• low frequency signal attacks.

• Small size
  Takes up almost no room on your desktop

• Easy to install and operate
  Quickly connects to the host PC

• Push Button Control
  Users only need to click on the push button(s) to activate

• Configuration Tool
  Sets how long the speaker or mic remains open

• Independent Speaker and Mic support
  Allowing the user to decide on which peripheral device to use and when

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