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USB Type-C comes with major security risks

By Kenny Yeo - on 17 Mar 2015, 9:33am

USB Type-C comes with major security risks

Source: Stuff.co.nz.

The launch of Apple's stunning new MacBook and Google's new Chromebook Pixel has placed the new USB Type-C standard in the limelight. This new connector has been called the port of the future and boasts of a number of improvements over older USB interfaces. Not only is it reversible (which makes it easier to use), it also provides up to 100W of power, and offers up to 10Gbps of throughput.

However, despite its many obvious advantages, it carries with it a huge security risk. Remember BadUSB? Last year, security experts Karsten Nohl and Jakob Lell wrote that USB is "fundamentally broken" and demonstrated how they could capitalize on inherent weaknesses of the USB interface to infect a computer.

The problem therefore with the new MacBook and Chromebook Pixel is that both devices rely on their USB Type-C ports for power. This is cause for concern especially if you are outdoors and you need to rely on a borrowed charger to recharge your device.

A hacker with the correct skills could infect a charger to carry the BadUSB virus and leave the infected charger at, let's say a cafe, and wait for an unsuspecting user to plug in. Further complicating matters is the fact that because USB is an open standard, there's no quick fix in sight even with the new USB Type-C standard. It seems like the only sound advice is to avoid using unknown chargers and stick to only your own.

Source: The Verge

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