USB Type-C to Become More Secure with Authentication Standard

Re:USB Type-C to Become More Secure with Authentication Stan... by holidaygoose on Wednesday January 02, 2019 @02:39PM (#18809362)

I've heard a lot about fragmentation, but just anecdotally it doesn't seem to be an issue in practice. My family has USB-C headphones, phones, laptops, remotes, and then USB-C charging cables around the house. Everything can be charged anywhere and everything is swappable, with the only inconvenience of the laptops needing the larger charging bricks to charge fast (otherwise they charge slow).

I connect my desktop to different phones via USB-C, my phone to my headphones, laptop to monitor, my headphones using my car charger, etc. and it all works. The charging bricks and cables are cheap on sale -- $30 for bricks that can charge laptops and about $4 a cable. We're a 100% USB-C household and will only buy electronics with USB-C or USB. I'm waiting for everything else to go USB-C: come on projectors, razors, speakers, and musical instruments.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:USB Type-C to Become More Secure with Authentication Stan... by kiddico on Wednesday January 02, 2019 @02:48PM (#18809445)

In a USB-backed world things do seem to go pretty smoothly. I'm looking forward to that all USB-C world too :) Imagine never having to think about which way a plug should go!

I suppose my biggest gripe is that things that aren't USB are able to use the USB-C form factor. For instance thunderbolt. My dock at work connects with thunderbolt over USB-C, and everything works fine minus the display port pass through. It's kinda cool that it works at all to be honest. Oddly enough the Ethernet jack and Dock sound card are run over USB so those work fine.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:USB Type-C to Become More Secure with Authentication Stan... by chmars on Wednesday January 02, 2019 @03:50PM (#18810047)

My main issue is that sometimes my iPhone is charging my MacBook and not vice versa … In the end, my iPhone is empty in the morning.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:USB Type-C to Become More Secure with Authentication Stan... by spiritcat on Thursday January 03, 2019 @12:36AM (#18813079)

Mine was when laptop tried to charge screen and not vice-versa, using Amazon USB-c to display port. In the end, laptop gets new mother board.

To be fair, OSX warned me something was drawing too much voltage, and I still tried it like 5 times after that, but the screen did flicker on a few times and work for a sec before it all went kaput.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:USB Type-C to Become More Secure with Authentication Stan... by scrumbledober on Wednesday January 02, 2019 @06:49PM (#18811501)

that's very much non ideal.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:USB Type-C to Become More Secure with Authentication Stan... by vuln on Wednesday January 02, 2019 @02:43PM (#18809392)

If you have Nintendo switch in your household ensure everyone understands to use the Nintendo branded USB-C or else your switch will be toast and warranty voided.

Source: USB-C household with a 9 year old and a new switch.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:USB Type-C to Become More Secure with Authentication Stan... by heartbreak on Wednesday January 02, 2019 @03:28PM (#18809859)

This is misinformation, and this particular strand of it seems to never die. There is an issue with unofficial 3rd party docks for Nintendo Switch causing issues. USB-C PD chargers work fine.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:USB Type-C to Become More Secure with Authentication Stan... by LeftTurnSignal on Thursday January 03, 2019 @10:42AM (#18815891)

I had to buy a Nintendo USB C cable to use for my switch. None of the ones I got with my Pixel or other USB C devices worked. Granted, I only had 5 other cables to test at the time.

The only unofficial thing I used was the cable itself. Once I bought their cable, the switch charges on everything I connect it to now.

Not quite the same issue as burning up my switch (as of now), but issues nonetheless.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:USB Type-C to Become More Secure with Authentication Stan... by dtech on Wednesday January 02, 2019 @02:55PM (#18809524)

What? I've charged my Switch with a dozen different cables and 5+ different chargers and it was not damaged, altough it does not charge with 1 charger.

Was it a cheap USB A -> USB C Cable without a resistor? Those a well known to be dangerous [1]

[1] https://www.howtogeek.com/353410/3-problems-with-usb-c-you-n...

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:USB Type-C to Become More Secure with Authentication Stan... by pR0Ps on Wednesday January 02, 2019 @06:45PM (#18811475)

I have this rule too. While there are a bunch of people with anecdotes saying their Switch is fine with non-Nintendo power supplies, the fact that the dock and console are both ridiculously noncompliant[0] is enough to dissuade me from ever trying it. I'd rather eat the markup cost on a Nintendo-branded power supply than risk bricking an expensive piece of tech.

[0]: https://www.reddit.com/r/NintendoSwitch/comments/87vmud/the_...

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:USB Type-C to Become More Secure with Authentication Stan... by minimaxir on Wednesday January 02, 2019 @03:26PM (#18809841)

It varies strongly. Handheld charging is typically fine, it's using unofficial docks which cause problems (since Nintendo didn't follow USB-C spec when it charges via that)

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:USB Type-C to Become More Secure with Authentication Stan... by holidaygoose on Wednesday January 02, 2019 @02:46PM (#18809422)

I'm not so familiar with the Switch, but this thread here https://www.reddit.com/r/NintendoSwitch/comments/6jnkl4/list... seems to indicate that using other USB-C chargers is okay?

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:USB Type-C to Become More Secure with Authentication Stan... by andy_ppp on Wednesday January 02, 2019 @03:33PM (#18809901)

This isn’t true, I’ve charged the switch at least 20 times with my MacBook Pro charger and it’s fine...

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:USB Type-C to Become More Secure with Authentication Stan... by pedrocx486 on Wednesday January 02, 2019 @03:52PM (#18810071)

And I use an Aukey charger on my Switch. I never even used the stock one, it still is in the box. OP is misleading everyone by mixing the dock problem (which counterfeits can brick the switch) with something he imagined.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:USB Type-C to Become More Secure with Authentication Stan... by vuln on Thursday January 03, 2019 @09:22AM (#18815254)

Pretty sure I didn't -imagine- my son plugging his switch into my Google Pixel USB C charger. I did not -imagine- the device being bricked. I didn't -imagine- the hours wasted dealing with tech support and RMA'ing the device only to be told that we voided the warranty.

I'd send you the correspondence between Nintendo and myself but I feel as if I've wasted enough time on you already.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:USB Type-C to Become More Secure with Authentication Stan... by wyldfire on Wednesday January 02, 2019 @02:48PM (#18809441)

Is that really the case?! Wow. I've used a USB-C car charger from Anker with the Switch and not given it a second thought. I recall reading that the Switch had odd or picky behavior but I didn't think that it could be damaged by non-Nintendo equipment.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:USB Type-C to Become More Secure with Authentication Stan... by pedrocx486 on Wednesday January 02, 2019 @03:51PM (#18810056)

It's not. It's an issue with the Switch Docks and it's counterfeits. Chargers are okay.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:USB Type-C to Become More Secure with Authentication Stan... by cbdumas on Wednesday January 02, 2019 @04:46PM (#18810556)

I regularly charge my Switch with my Dell XPS 13 charger. Never had an issue.

[ Parent | on HN ]