Your Headset Is Listening: Motion Sensor Side-Channels and the Future of Extended Reality Privacy

Cong Shi; Yan Wang; Yingying Chen; Nitesh Saxena

doi:10.1109/MSEC.2025.3603109

Your Headset Is Listening: Motion Sensor Side-Channels and the Future of Extended Reality Privacy

Cong Shi
, Yan Wang
, Yingying Chen
, Nitesh Saxena

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

This article comprehensively studies the often-overlooked privacy risks associated with sensor-rich extended reality headsets. We demonstrate how motion sensors, typically accessed without user permission, can capture subtle facial vibrations, potentially leaking sensitive data such as speech, identity, and physiological information.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	21-31
Number of pages	11
Journal	IEEE Security and Privacy
Volume	23
Issue number	6
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1109/MSEC.2025.3603109
State	Published - 2025
Externally published	Yes

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Computer Networks and Communications
Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Law

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10.1109/MSEC.2025.3603109

Cite this

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title = "Your Headset Is Listening: Motion Sensor Side-Channels and the Future of Extended Reality Privacy",

abstract = "This article comprehensively studies the often-overlooked privacy risks associated with sensor-rich extended reality headsets. We demonstrate how motion sensors, typically accessed without user permission, can capture subtle facial vibrations, potentially leaking sensitive data such as speech, identity, and physiological information.",

author = "Cong Shi and Yan Wang and Yingying Chen and Nitesh Saxena",

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year = "2025",

doi = "10.1109/MSEC.2025.3603109",

language = "English (US)",

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AU - Shi, Cong

AU - Wang, Yan

AU - Chen, Yingying

AU - Saxena, Nitesh

PY - 2025

Y1 - 2025

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AB - This article comprehensively studies the often-overlooked privacy risks associated with sensor-rich extended reality headsets. We demonstrate how motion sensors, typically accessed without user permission, can capture subtle facial vibrations, potentially leaking sensitive data such as speech, identity, and physiological information.

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DO - 10.1109/MSEC.2025.3603109

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:105017401981

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JO - IEEE Security and Privacy

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IS - 6

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Your Headset Is Listening: Motion Sensor Side-Channels and the Future of Extended Reality Privacy

Abstract

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

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