Re:ATtention Spanned: Comprehensive Android Vulnerability An...
by ForHackernews on Friday August 24, 2018 @04:20PM
(#17837624)
This is a good point. I wonder if there's a market for "power-only" USB cables without data? Or would those fail to negotiate the right wattage?
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Re:ATtention Spanned: Comprehensive Android Vulnerability An...
by joezydeco on Friday August 24, 2018 @04:27PM
(#17837665)
There's the USB Condom:
Re:ATtention Spanned: Comprehensive Android Vulnerability An...
by digi_owl on Friday August 24, 2018 @04:42PM
(#17837756)
While not at guaranteed, killing the data wires (or shorting them) makes the device think it is dealing with a charge only port.
Thus various companies have made devices that conditionally apply said short.
Here is one example: https://www.startech.com/Cables/USB-2.0/USB-Adapters/USB-2-F...
Re:ATtention Spanned: Comprehensive Android Vulnerability An...
by joezydeco on Friday August 24, 2018 @04:51PM
(#17837803)
The USB condom is more for situations where you are in public and wish to charge your device from an unknown and possibly hostile USB-A receptacle.
Re:ATtention Spanned: Comprehensive Android Vulnerability An...
by DarkStar851 on Saturday August 25, 2018 @02:04AM
(#17839780)
That Startech device still isolates the data line, it just has the added bonus of adding fast charging support. It'd be effective as a "USB condom" alternative.
Re:ATtention Spanned: Comprehensive Android Vulnerability An...
by kageurufu on Friday August 24, 2018 @04:27PM
(#17837664)
USB-C has separate lines for the "Configuration Channel", that is used to negotiate voltage and amperage. I'm unaware if the specification allows for cables without data lines, but I don't believe they would be required.
It would only work on USB-C host devices as well though, USB-A would still revert to either 500mA as long as the data lines are tied with a resistor
Re:ATtention Spanned: Comprehensive Android Vulnerability An...
by c22 on Friday August 24, 2018 @06:06PM
(#17838170)
I have several cables like this. It's always briefly mystifying when I accidentally grab one to sync some data. No negotiation, my fancy devices just charge at 500mA using these cables.