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posted by chromas on Friday February 15 2019, @10:22AM   Printer-friendly
from the physical-access-is-root-access dept.

Security researcher Mike Grover has modified a USB cable to accept remote commands. The commands can be relayed via a nearby smartphone or even over wi-fi. He plans to put these cables on the market soon. For charging, an adapter with the data connctions severed or removed, known as a "USB condom", is a good idea.

On Sunday, the security researcher Mike Grover demonstrated the threat by creating a malicious USB cable that can receive commands from a nearby smartphone and then execute them over the PC it's been plugged into.

His USB-to-Lightning cable looks pretty generic, but Grover actually fitted a Wi-Fi chip inside one of the sockets. Unsuspecting users will think they've plugged a simple cord into their PC. But in reality, the computer will actually detect the cable as a Human Interface Device akin to a mouse or keyboard.


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  • (Score: 2) by Kalas on Saturday February 16 2019, @08:03PM

    by Kalas (4247) on Saturday February 16 2019, @08:03PM (#802160)

    Well I can't speak for a USB condom but in my experience putting a condom over your ethernet cord before inserting it is 100% effective in preventing malware infections from the internet.

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