A team of researchers at the Institute of Computer Science and Random Systems has recently developed a non-software virus detection system by using  Raspberry Pi.

Indeed, this new system draws on Raspberry Pi, an H-field probe and an oscilloscope to detect electromagnetic wave signatures of multiple types of viruses, in order to detect patterns of known computer viruses that are running on various devices. The researchers use that system as a virus detector by putting the H-field probe close to the device to read the electromagnetic waves that are generated.

The Raspberry Pi is then able to report if it has found any viruses and which ones. It is shown to be capable of detecting 99.82% of generic malware, as well as a benign virus type. Besides, the system doesn’t need any software installation on the device being tested as the detection is done through the external system.

The team has presented its system and test results at the ACM Machinery’s Annual Computer Security Applications Conference in December.