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Why You Should Stop Using Other People’s iPhone Cables

43 points by mgh2 5y ago

webmobdev 5y ago
Sigh. Apple just got another excuse to make its charging and data cable even more incompatible with other devices in the name of security ... Security is highly desired. But as a consumer the incompatibilities and the impossible-to-repair part is highly irksome. As is the price-gauging.
- jbuhbjlnjbn 5y ago
  This is an unfortunate situation - there is a legitimate argument to be made for quality accessories, safety (of melting, burning, frying ports) and security, but the flipside is, most OEMs are shameless in their ways of overcharging you for that (especially Apple).
- gumby 5y ago
  > Apple just got another excuse to make its charging and data cable even more incompatible ... (emphasis mine) Not sure where you are going here. Apple’s USB C cables and chargers are ordinary, standards-compliant devices. They do still have lightning devices (predating Type C), but the other end of those are standard USB type A and type C connections. Type C is the upgrade path; my Mac and iPad use them. I’m sure when they switch their phones to type c there will be much anguish about the “incompatibility” — just as when they introduced the USB-based iMac in 1998!
  - webmobdev 5y ago
    Not sure where you are going here. Apple is known to make its accessories highly incompatible with existing standards and charge an exorbitant price for it. Security is one of the reason they cite for it. Apple’s USB C cables and chargers are ordinary, standards-compliant devices That's good to hear. But does that mean that non-Apple USB-C cable also work fine on USB-C Apple devices for both charging and data transfer? I am curious about this as Apple's lightening cable all include a chip and the iDevices won't work with a lightening cable with an unapproved chip in it. Do Apple's USB-C cable also include a chip?
    - gumby 5y ago
      I use a variety of vendors for USB c cables, and PD power supplies, and Qi chargers and all work fine. > Apple is known to make its accessories highly incompatible with existing standards Apart from using 30-pin and lighting I have not know this to be true in the usb era. Typically they are quite compliant but very strict, and use the standard identifiers to operate external devices rather than third party drivers. Their Bluetooth gear works with android and other devices. Note their watch has its own charger.
KMnO4 5y ago
> The cables were not designed to attack iPhones, but the Macs and other computers they’re plugged into for a charge or a sync. This makes much more sense. iPhones are mostly protected from malicious USB cables by requiring you to “trust” any new connection.
- 0xbeefbeefbeef 5y ago
  Except for the fact that you can jailbreak an iPhone by exploiting the USB stack: https://iokit.racing/oneweirdtrick.pdf https://iokit.racing/oneweirdtrick.pdf
  - ryanlol 5y ago
    Do you normally keep your phone in the DFU state?
- jbuhbjlnjbn 5y ago
  Oh yeah, so there is an easy and cheap remedy, let computers handle cable data connections the same as smartphones, asking for consent. That would mitigate the danger for charging with an 'unknown cable'. But when you actually want to use it for data, the issue will remain.
text70 5y ago
I seem to remember wireless charging with magnetic induction. Why did this never become the norm?
- meibo 5y ago
  Because people want to use their phones while charging. It's been impractical for a long time, Apple has made it somewhat resurge again by putting a big magnet at the back of the phone that keeps the induction charger tight.
- sundae 5y ago
  Yes, Intel tried to introduce Rezence a couple of years back. Don't know why it never happened, perhaps QI was good enough? https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rezence_(wireless_charging_standard) https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rezence_(wireless_charging_s...
- jiofih 5y ago
  Did it not? Everyone I know uses wireless Qi charging already. It’s been a default feature in phones since ~2018.
branon 5y ago
Possibly related: anyone got a link to where I can buy a power-only (microUSB|UCB-C|Lightning) cable with data leads removed? Searching Amazon for something like this doesn't appear to be a useful exercise.
- washadjeffmad 5y ago
  It may not be able to charge since the cables use methods to sense and communicate with the power source and device to determine allowed charging characteristics. I use wireless charging and bought some Anker PowerCore 10000 PDs for my cellphone, headphones, GoPros, raspis/arduinos, and in emergencies, laptops. Each is good for a number of full cellphone charges, so if you're really paranoid, that's probably the way to go.
- sschueller 5y ago
  Search for USB condom. Usually an adapter that does this.
- toomuchtodo 5y ago
  https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B06XGM6LJB/ https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B06XGM6LJB/ https://smile.amazon.com/PortaPow-USB-USB-C-Data-Blocker/dp/B09371DXDJ https://smile.amazon.com/PortaPow-USB-USB-C-Data-Blocker/dp/... (no affiliation, just a satisfied user)

43 points by mgh2 5y ago

Sigh. Apple just got another excuse to make its charging and data cable even more incompatible with other devices in the name of security ... Security is highly desired. But as a consumer the incompatibilities and the impossible-to-repair part is highly irksome. As is the price-gauging.

jbuhbjlnjbn 5y ago
This is an unfortunate situation - there is a legitimate argument to be made for quality accessories, safety (of melting, burning, frying ports) and security, but the flipside is, most OEMs are shameless in their ways of overcharging you for that (especially Apple).
gumby 5y ago
> Apple just got another excuse to make its charging and data cable even more incompatible ... (emphasis mine) Not sure where you are going here. Apple’s USB C cables and chargers are ordinary, standards-compliant devices. They do still have lightning devices (predating Type C), but the other end of those are standard USB type A and type C connections. Type C is the upgrade path; my Mac and iPad use them. I’m sure when they switch their phones to type c there will be much anguish about the “incompatibility” — just as when they introduced the USB-based iMac in 1998!
- webmobdev 5y ago
  Not sure where you are going here. Apple is known to make its accessories highly incompatible with existing standards and charge an exorbitant price for it. Security is one of the reason they cite for it. Apple’s USB C cables and chargers are ordinary, standards-compliant devices That's good to hear. But does that mean that non-Apple USB-C cable also work fine on USB-C Apple devices for both charging and data transfer? I am curious about this as Apple's lightening cable all include a chip and the iDevices won't work with a lightening cable with an unapproved chip in it. Do Apple's USB-C cable also include a chip?
  - gumby 5y ago
    I use a variety of vendors for USB c cables, and PD power supplies, and Qi chargers and all work fine. > Apple is known to make its accessories highly incompatible with existing standards Apart from using 30-pin and lighting I have not know this to be true in the usb era. Typically they are quite compliant but very strict, and use the standard identifiers to operate external devices rather than third party drivers. Their Bluetooth gear works with android and other devices. Note their watch has its own charger.

KMnO4 5y ago

> The cables were not designed to attack iPhones, but the Macs and other computers they’re plugged into for a charge or a sync. This makes much more sense. iPhones are mostly protected from malicious USB cables by requiring you to “trust” any new connection.

0xbeefbeefbeef 5y ago
Except for the fact that you can jailbreak an iPhone by exploiting the USB stack: https://iokit.racing/oneweirdtrick.pdf https://iokit.racing/oneweirdtrick.pdf
- ryanlol 5y ago
  Do you normally keep your phone in the DFU state?
jbuhbjlnjbn 5y ago
Oh yeah, so there is an easy and cheap remedy, let computers handle cable data connections the same as smartphones, asking for consent. That would mitigate the danger for charging with an 'unknown cable'. But when you actually want to use it for data, the issue will remain.

text70 5y ago

I seem to remember wireless charging with magnetic induction. Why did this never become the norm?

meibo 5y ago
Because people want to use their phones while charging. It's been impractical for a long time, Apple has made it somewhat resurge again by putting a big magnet at the back of the phone that keeps the induction charger tight.
sundae 5y ago
Yes, Intel tried to introduce Rezence a couple of years back. Don't know why it never happened, perhaps QI was good enough? https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rezence_(wireless_charging_standard) https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rezence_(wireless_charging_s...
jiofih 5y ago
Did it not? Everyone I know uses wireless Qi charging already. It’s been a default feature in phones since ~2018.

branon 5y ago

Possibly related: anyone got a link to where I can buy a power-only (microUSB|UCB-C|Lightning) cable with data leads removed? Searching Amazon for something like this doesn't appear to be a useful exercise.

washadjeffmad 5y ago
It may not be able to charge since the cables use methods to sense and communicate with the power source and device to determine allowed charging characteristics. I use wireless charging and bought some Anker PowerCore 10000 PDs for my cellphone, headphones, GoPros, raspis/arduinos, and in emergencies, laptops. Each is good for a number of full cellphone charges, so if you're really paranoid, that's probably the way to go.
sschueller 5y ago
Search for USB condom. Usually an adapter that does this.
toomuchtodo 5y ago
https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B06XGM6LJB/ https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B06XGM6LJB/ https://smile.amazon.com/PortaPow-USB-USB-C-Data-Blocker/dp/B09371DXDJ https://smile.amazon.com/PortaPow-USB-USB-C-Data-Blocker/dp/... (no affiliation, just a satisfied user)