SoylentNews is people
SoylentNews is powered by your submissions, so send in your scoop. Only 15 submissions in the queue.
SoylentNews
posted by
martyb
on Wednesday November 26 2014, @04:56AM
from the need-to-put-a-filter-on-that-e-cigarette dept.
from the need-to-put-a-filter-on-that-e-cigarette dept.
The Guardian features a story about e-cigarettes carrying some malware, infecting computers used to charge them. Though not entirely surprising when you actually think about it, personally I'd not have expected non-computerized devices which just happen to have micro-usb charger socket to pose a threat to IT security.
From the article:
“The made in China e-cigarette had malware hardcoded into the charger, and when plugged into a computer’s USB port the malware phoned home and infected the system.”
Later the article references some low-level attacks might be used to reprogram USB chips on devices, letting them act as USB keyboards issuing commands on the behalf of the logged in user, etc.
This discussion has been archived.
No new comments can be posted.
E-Cigarettes are Bad for the Health — Of Your Computer
|
Log In/Create an Account
| Top
| 82 comments
| Search Discussion
The Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way.
A Smith & Wesson beats four aces.
(Score: 2) by q.kontinuum on Wednesday November 26 2014, @09:21AM
Can you trust your pigtail-device? Without opening and analyzing it first? Or could there be some hidden electronic in the "charge only" cable as well?
Registered IRC nick on chat.soylentnews.org: qkontinuum
(Score: 2) by Fnord666 on Wednesday November 26 2014, @03:44PM
Yes, but that's because I made it. I do see what you're saying though, especially since it would probably be manufactured in the same country as the e-cigs were!
(Score: 2) by cafebabe on Wednesday November 26 2014, @09:19PM
Some USB hubs are transparent and easy to open. It would be trivial to cut data wires while leaving power wires intact.
1702845791×2