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Free charging stations can hack your phone, here's how to protect yourself

12 points by saycheese 10y ago

LordWinstanley 10y ago
>> we reached out to some security experts... Four-Tops-Itis
AdamGibbins 10y ago
I use these https://www.amazon.com/PortaPow-Charge-Block-Adaptor-SmartCharge/dp/B00QRRZ2QM https://www.amazon.com/PortaPow-Charge-Block-Adaptor-SmartCh... - cheap and effective.
gtm1260 10y ago
"Even when a mobile phone is in 'charging only' (locked) mode, it can still transmit the device name, vendor name and serial number to the system behind the USB port, and more based on the platform and operating system of the phone," the Kaspersky Lab spokesperson said. I have to say this seems like a very minor issue. Its pretty much exactly what I would think gets transmitted. No personal data really at all.
- saycheese 10y ago
  As the article says, if you assume that's are that can be extracted from a device, it's only a matter of time before you realize it is not; at which point, you may have already been hacked.
wheelerwj 10y ago
whoa!!! if you plug your phone into something you don't control you might get hacked!?! stop the presses.
lutusp 10y ago
To solve this problem, those with hardware skills can take a spare USB cable and snip the data lines, leaving the power lines intact. http://i869.photobucket.com/albums/ab259/kvnsnyder/USB-cable-wiring.jpg http://i869.photobucket.com/albums/ab259/kvnsnyder/USB-cable... Such a modified cable would solve the described problem -- charge the device but not accept data.
- DrScump 10y ago
  But you'd need a cable with a female end or a female-female adapter on hand.
- anotheryou 10y ago
  If you twist together the two data cables android phones also charge faster on the computer (going to AC mode). (don't charge on really old PCs that could get overloaded)
gizmo686 10y ago
Enough with the abstinence only education. Just use a condom [0]. Also inspect you condom to make sure it isn't malicious itself. Or make your own. [0] https://www.amazon.com/Syncstop-The-Original-USB-Condom/dp/B01N0HCJOW/ref=sr_1_1?s=wireless&ie=UTF8&qid=1487566529&sr=1-1&keywords=usb+condom https://www.amazon.com/Syncstop-The-Original-USB-Condom/dp/B...
bluesign 10y ago
I think browsing internet from your phone is much more risk than plugging to unknown charger considering attack surface.
gabby92 10y ago
Do you require the services of a hacker?..contact leehacks92@gmail.com for your ethical and unethical hacks,he's time conscious,very discreet and reliable,he’s the best i’ve worked with so far..check him out and you won't be disappointed..serious enquiries only!!
gabby92 10y ago
Do you require the services of a hacker?..contact leehacks92@gmail.com for your ethical and unethical hacks,he's time conscious,very discreet and reliable,he’s the best i’ve worked with so far..check him out and you won't be disappointed..serious enquiries only!!

12 points by saycheese 10y ago

>> we reached out to some security experts... Four-Tops-Itis

I use these https://www.amazon.com/PortaPow-Charge-Block-Adaptor-SmartCharge/dp/B00QRRZ2QM https://www.amazon.com/PortaPow-Charge-Block-Adaptor-SmartCh... - cheap and effective.

gtm1260 10y ago

"Even when a mobile phone is in 'charging only' (locked) mode, it can still transmit the device name, vendor name and serial number to the system behind the USB port, and more based on the platform and operating system of the phone," the Kaspersky Lab spokesperson said. I have to say this seems like a very minor issue. Its pretty much exactly what I would think gets transmitted. No personal data really at all.

saycheese 10y ago
As the article says, if you assume that's are that can be extracted from a device, it's only a matter of time before you realize it is not; at which point, you may have already been hacked.

wheelerwj 10y ago

whoa!!! if you plug your phone into something you don't control you might get hacked!?! stop the presses.

lutusp 10y ago

To solve this problem, those with hardware skills can take a spare USB cable and snip the data lines, leaving the power lines intact. http://i869.photobucket.com/albums/ab259/kvnsnyder/USB-cable-wiring.jpg http://i869.photobucket.com/albums/ab259/kvnsnyder/USB-cable... Such a modified cable would solve the described problem -- charge the device but not accept data.

DrScump 10y ago
But you'd need a cable with a female end or a female-female adapter on hand.
anotheryou 10y ago
If you twist together the two data cables android phones also charge faster on the computer (going to AC mode). (don't charge on really old PCs that could get overloaded)

gizmo686 10y ago

Enough with the abstinence only education. Just use a condom [0]. Also inspect you condom to make sure it isn't malicious itself. Or make your own. [0] https://www.amazon.com/Syncstop-The-Original-USB-Condom/dp/B01N0HCJOW/ref=sr_1_1?s=wireless&ie=UTF8&qid=1487566529&sr=1-1&keywords=usb+condom https://www.amazon.com/Syncstop-The-Original-USB-Condom/dp/B...

bluesign 10y ago

I think browsing internet from your phone is much more risk than plugging to unknown charger considering attack surface.

gabby92 10y ago

Do you require the services of a hacker?..contact leehacks92@gmail.com for your ethical and unethical hacks,he's time conscious,very discreet and reliable,he’s the best i’ve worked with so far..check him out and you won't be disappointed..serious enquiries only!!

gabby92 10y ago