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Laptop chargers are not as mobile chargers; when you connect a USB, the USB cannot just read the computer's data. It also cannot execute a program. This all com

Laptop chargers are not as mobile chargers; when you connect a USB, the USB cannot just read the computer's data. It also cannot execute a program. This all comes from USB sticks that got so infected. 0-days aside of course.

megous 10y ago
Sure it can. All it needs to do that is to emulate a HID device and act as an keyboard or mouse. You might notice when it starts opening cmd/shell and typing commands, or not, or at least not fast enough. Or you may not understand what's happening and ignore the black box that popped up for a while on your desktop.
- franciscop 10y ago
  While valid, that is a totally different scenario from what the OP wants to protect from. I am just pointing out that when connecting a phone and a laptop to an USB the default is that phones are unsecure and laptops are secure-ish. 0days, badUSB and all applies of course.
  - rblatz 10y ago
    My phone prompts me for access before it trusts a USB device, my computer loads drivers for it, sometimes without prompting. This seems like the opposite of the situation you describe.
  - stevehawk 10y ago
    Actually that's exactly the scenario. I could make a USB C charger that is also a memory device with an autorun zero day and while charging your laptop I'm compromising it as well. Be it portable, individual adapters or public access ones in airports. But that MagSafe or any other power only adapter? It's not compromising anything
pjc50 10y ago
USB-C chargers can of course pretend to be whatever they want, including an infected USB stick.
hutch34 10y ago
Sure -- but it wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility to quickly swap someones cable with a look-alike that could. I'd think that'd be more likely than the original hardware manufacturer implementing phone home or something.
cptskippy 10y ago
Your charger may not be harmful but that doesn't mean all chargers won't be or that all USB ports are safe. Imagine if everyone used USB-C then we'd get to the point where no one would carry their charger with them because they could just borrow a charger or plug their computer into a random USB charge port at the Airport or Hotel. At that point anyone could just setup a free "charge station" that would attempt to execute any number of nefarious exploits against anything plugged into them.

megous 10y ago

Sure it can. All it needs to do that is to emulate a HID device and act as an keyboard or mouse. You might notice when it starts opening cmd/shell and typing commands, or not, or at least not fast enough. Or you may not understand what's happening and ignore the black box that popped up for a while on your desktop.

franciscop 10y ago
While valid, that is a totally different scenario from what the OP wants to protect from. I am just pointing out that when connecting a phone and a laptop to an USB the default is that phones are unsecure and laptops are secure-ish. 0days, badUSB and all applies of course.
- rblatz 10y ago
  My phone prompts me for access before it trusts a USB device, my computer loads drivers for it, sometimes without prompting. This seems like the opposite of the situation you describe.
- stevehawk 10y ago
  Actually that's exactly the scenario. I could make a USB C charger that is also a memory device with an autorun zero day and while charging your laptop I'm compromising it as well. Be it portable, individual adapters or public access ones in airports. But that MagSafe or any other power only adapter? It's not compromising anything

pjc50 10y ago

USB-C chargers can of course pretend to be whatever they want, including an infected USB stick.

hutch34 10y ago

Sure -- but it wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility to quickly swap someones cable with a look-alike that could. I'd think that'd be more likely than the original hardware manufacturer implementing phone home or something.

cptskippy 10y ago

Your charger may not be harmful but that doesn't mean all chargers won't be or that all USB ports are safe. Imagine if everyone used USB-C then we'd get to the point where no one would carry their charger with them because they could just borrow a charger or plug their computer into a random USB charge port at the Airport or Hotel. At that point anyone could just setup a free "charge station" that would attempt to execute any number of nefarious exploits against anything plugged into them.