5 ms·

I wonder what voltage is required to kill the Mediatek chip? Maybe a simple jig that put -24v through it could fry it? Of course, if you're expecting it, this

by new299 9y ago

I wonder what voltage is required to kill the Mediatek chip? Maybe a simple jig that put -24v through it could fry it? Of course, if you're expecting it, this device should be relatively simple to stop. I can imagine more stealthy variants however.

abstractbeliefs 9y ago
Simply removing the SIM would sort you out to stop it doing much, it seems.
Oxitendwe 9y ago
If you already know it's there, you probably don't need to go through the trouble of destroying it, unless you just want to fry random USB devices.
- evancox10 9y ago
  The idea is that you would apply a high voltage to just the cable, with nothing else attached. If it's just a cable, no harm no foul. On the other hand, if you start seeing smoke from the embedded electronics, you may want to use a different cable.
  - revelation 9y ago
    You could also just use one of those cheap USB power/voltage monitors as the author does. Obviously a cable alone should not be drawing power. Maybe an innovative company could add warnings for USB ports that draw power but have no recognized device. For the advanced ports with charging support and so on they should have power monitoring already.
  - comex 9y ago
    Unfortunately, that approach will become less useful in the future, as all USB-C cables that support USB 3 and/or high power contain a chip to advertise that fact[1]. (And then there are Thunderbolt cables, which look the same but require even more sophisticated electronics.) [1] https://e2e.ti.com/blogs_/b/analogwire/archive/2016/03/07/which-usb-type-c-cable-is-right-for-my-application https://e2e.ti.com/blogs_/b/analogwire/archive/2016/03/07/wh...
    - Null-Set 9y ago
      If anything this is just more reason to avoid USB-C.
vpribish 9y ago
or you could unplug it, take it home and keep it as a pet
- deleted 9y ago
  [deleted]
- squarefoot 9y ago
  Or even better, take out the SIM and find to whom the number is registered to. In many countries numbers require registration, ie. you can't get one without showing personal papers. Of course intel agencies aren't required to do that, so that if you can't get a real name for that SIM then you're 100% sure you're being watched by people a bit more powerful and dangerous than your suspicious wife (unless your wife works for them :^). Using cellphones or anything related to them, especially if you don't plan to recover the device, is not good for spying because you're leaving behind tracks almost as important as DNA. Nice article though. If some of you want to experiment with these devices, you can get a SIM800 or A6 GSM modules then pair it with a small uC for a lot less than €10. https://github.com/carrascoacd/ArduinoSIM800L https://github.com/carrascoacd/ArduinoSIM800L http://simcom.ee/documents/SIM800/SIM800_Hardware%20Design_V1.08.pdf http://simcom.ee/documents/SIM800/SIM800_Hardware%20Design_V... http://www.electrodragon.com/w/GSM_GPRS_A6_Module http://www.electrodragon.com/w/GSM_GPRS_A6_Module https://www.makerfabs.com/desfile/files/A6_A7_A6C_datasheet-EN.pdf https://www.makerfabs.com/desfile/files/A6_A7_A6C_datasheet-...
  - bleke 9y ago
    Good luck with that, it not hard to convince random homeless guy to register sim card on his name, even for wife.
  - jhiska 9y ago
    >If you can't get a real name for that SIM then you're 100% sure you're being watched by people a bit more powerful and dangerous than your suspicious wife If you conveniently "forget" or show heavy reluctance to give your info and papers when buying a new phone, you can get an unregistered SIM. Just promise them you'll give the info "later". The salespeople don't like the hassle and just want to secure the sale. You can also easily give fake info and "forget" your ID card, since it's not verified, but that's dangerous if you get caught. Simple social engineering.

by new299 9y ago

abstractbeliefs 9y ago

Simply removing the SIM would sort you out to stop it doing much, it seems.

Oxitendwe 9y ago

If you already know it's there, you probably don't need to go through the trouble of destroying it, unless you just want to fry random USB devices.

evancox10 9y ago
The idea is that you would apply a high voltage to just the cable, with nothing else attached. If it's just a cable, no harm no foul. On the other hand, if you start seeing smoke from the embedded electronics, you may want to use a different cable.
- revelation 9y ago
  You could also just use one of those cheap USB power/voltage monitors as the author does. Obviously a cable alone should not be drawing power. Maybe an innovative company could add warnings for USB ports that draw power but have no recognized device. For the advanced ports with charging support and so on they should have power monitoring already.
- comex 9y ago
  Unfortunately, that approach will become less useful in the future, as all USB-C cables that support USB 3 and/or high power contain a chip to advertise that fact[1]. (And then there are Thunderbolt cables, which look the same but require even more sophisticated electronics.) [1] https://e2e.ti.com/blogs_/b/analogwire/archive/2016/03/07/which-usb-type-c-cable-is-right-for-my-application https://e2e.ti.com/blogs_/b/analogwire/archive/2016/03/07/wh...
  - Null-Set 9y ago
    If anything this is just more reason to avoid USB-C.

vpribish 9y ago

or you could unplug it, take it home and keep it as a pet

deleted 9y ago
[deleted]
squarefoot 9y ago
Or even better, take out the SIM and find to whom the number is registered to. In many countries numbers require registration, ie. you can't get one without showing personal papers. Of course intel agencies aren't required to do that, so that if you can't get a real name for that SIM then you're 100% sure you're being watched by people a bit more powerful and dangerous than your suspicious wife (unless your wife works for them :^). Using cellphones or anything related to them, especially if you don't plan to recover the device, is not good for spying because you're leaving behind tracks almost as important as DNA. Nice article though. If some of you want to experiment with these devices, you can get a SIM800 or A6 GSM modules then pair it with a small uC for a lot less than €10. https://github.com/carrascoacd/ArduinoSIM800L https://github.com/carrascoacd/ArduinoSIM800L http://simcom.ee/documents/SIM800/SIM800_Hardware%20Design_V1.08.pdf http://simcom.ee/documents/SIM800/SIM800_Hardware%20Design_V... http://www.electrodragon.com/w/GSM_GPRS_A6_Module http://www.electrodragon.com/w/GSM_GPRS_A6_Module https://www.makerfabs.com/desfile/files/A6_A7_A6C_datasheet-EN.pdf https://www.makerfabs.com/desfile/files/A6_A7_A6C_datasheet-...
- bleke 9y ago
  Good luck with that, it not hard to convince random homeless guy to register sim card on his name, even for wife.
- jhiska 9y ago
  >If you can't get a real name for that SIM then you're 100% sure you're being watched by people a bit more powerful and dangerous than your suspicious wife If you conveniently "forget" or show heavy reluctance to give your info and papers when buying a new phone, you can get an unregistered SIM. Just promise them you'll give the info "later". The salespeople don't like the hassle and just want to secure the sale. You can also easily give fake info and "forget" your ID card, since it's not verified, but that's dangerous if you get caught. Simple social engineering.