Cybersecurity researchers have created a new type of cyberattack—not to cause harm, but to help protect some of the world’s most important computer systems. Unlike many cyberattacks that directly target software or attempt to break into a computer system, NosyNeighbor works in a much quieter way. By studying these clues, it can estimate what tasks the computer is performing and use that information to plan a future attack. The researchers say this type of testing is important because many modern technologies depend on highly reliable, precisely timed computer systems. Rather than attacking the software itself, it watches indirect signals, particularly how long certain computer tasks take to finish.