"Down the Tubes: Common PVC Pipes Can Hack Voice Identification Systems"
Researchers are trying to keep up with hackers and prevent data theft. Some standard tools include multi-factor authentication (MFA) systems, fingerprint technology, and retinal scans. Automatic speaker identification, which uses a person's voice as a passcode, is a type of security system growing in popularity. These systems, already in place for phone banking and other applications, effectively detect digitally-manipulated attempts to fake a user's voice. However, digital security engineers at the University of Wisconsin–Madison have discovered that these systems are not as foolproof in the face of an innovative analog attack. They found that speaking through customized PVC pipes, commonly found in hardware stores, can trick Machine Learning (ML) algorithms supporting automatic speaker identification systems. This article continues to discuss the method of defeating automatic speaker identification systems using the type of PVC pipe found at any hardware store.