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#electricalnetworkfrequency#enfanalysis#audioforensics

The hidden background noise that can catch criminals

Tom Scott

6.7M subscribers • 28 videos on Hallway

YouTube
  • Recommended by 3 people: 3 on Hacker News.
  • Presented by Tom Scott

Beginner. No background in the topic needed.

5.8M views4 years ago3 recommendations

SecurityComputer scienceCryptographyPrivacy and surveillance

Tom Scott explains how Electrical Network Frequency analysis uses background power grid hum in audio recordings to determine when and where they were made.

Electrical Network Frequency analysis, ENF analysis, matches background hum against power grid logs. I talked to one of the researchers who works on it, and also set them a challenge. Thanks to @answerinprogress, @hannahwitton and @SteveMould! 🟥 MORE FROM TOM: tomscott.com/ (you can find contact details and social links there too) ❓ LATERAL, free weekly podcast: lateralcast.com/ youtube.com/lateralcast/ 👥 THE TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES: youtube.com/techdif

Why it's here

3 people recommend this

What people say. Recommended as an accessible and clear explanation of how mains hum forensics can date and locate audio recordings.

AnotherGoodNameon Hacker News • Recommends

On “Extracting Audio from Visual Information”

If you haven't already seen tom Scott's video on background noise giving the location of a recording due to power line frequencies being subtly different I recommend it. link to this video

subparon Hacker News • Recommends

On “How to date a recording using background electrical noise”

If this is interesting to you or your kids, here's a less detailed but pretty accessible video 1 explaining how mains hum forensics work, complete with British accent. 1 link to this video

Groxxon Hacker News • Recommends

On “How to date a recording using background electrical noise”

A video on the same subject: link to this video I really enjoy Tom Scott. Everything he puts out is wonderfully concise.

spuzon Hacker News • Mentions

On “Launch HN: Reality Defender (YC W22) – Deepfake Detection Platform”

There are companies that already provide this kind of service so it might be interesting for you to combine efforts: link to this video

LimeLimestoneon Hacker News • Mentions

On “Wearable device that records your voice for legal defense”

According to a Tom Scott's video1, you can use background noise emitted by electricity to prove that a recording has been taken at a certain time and place. 1: link to this video

raphaeljon Hacker News • Mentions

On “Ask HN: Tell us about your project that's not done yet but you want feedback on”

I'm writing a open-source library ( link ) and a webapp ( link ) that detects the Utility Grid noise emitted by electrical devices (A/C, motors, appliances ...) from Video/Audio recording. It then tries to date the recording by matching it to historical data. The signal processing part is getting decent. I'm still trying to collect more reference signals in RU, UK, China and Japan. Tom Scott made a video about the idea: link to this video

sschuelleron Hacker News • Mentions

On “Ask HN: Are there strategies for content creators to prove their location?”

Probably not practical but there was an interesting video by Tom Scott where investigators used the electrical hum background noise to determine when something was recorded. Maybe there is a way to audio record something to prove location. link to this video

thewanderer1983on Hacker News • Mentions

On “Hiding secret codes in light protects against fake videos”

Reminds me of the 'mains hum' technique that was used to identify videos. Can also be done with light. link to this video link