They make USB-C cables with displays now • Hacker News Board

Re: They make USB-C cables with displays now

#11

Post by transpute » Mon, Jun 17, 2024, 2:16 AM UTC

For comparison, a "something else" cable without display: https://shop.hak5.org/products/omg-cable

> The O.MG Cable is a hand made USB cable with an advanced implant hidden inside. It is designed to allow your Red Team to emulate attack scenarios of sophisticated adversaries. Until now, a cable like this would cost $20,000 (ex: COTTONMOUTH-I). These cables will allow you to test new detection opportunities for your defense teams. They are also extremely impactful tools for teaching and training. Thanks to continual firmware updates, the resulting power, flexibility, and ease of use have made the O.MG Cable a favorite.

Re: They make USB-C cables with displays now

#12

Post by twostorytower » Mon, Jun 17, 2024, 2:17 AM UTC

And somebody will have Doom working on it soon!

Re: They make USB-C cables with displays now

#13

Post by metaphor » Mon, Jun 17, 2024, 2:27 AM UTC

whycome wrote: post #4

moneywoes wrote: post #2

How do we know if these are doing something else?

How do you know for the cables without displays?

The USB-IF publishes a list of member companies[1]; purchase products from these qualified manufacturers, and perhaps more importantly, from authorized distributors.

This is a good enough "policy control" for the average consumer.

[1] https://www.usb.org/members

Re: They make USB-C cables with displays now

#14

Post by i_have_to_speak » Mon, Jun 17, 2024, 2:35 AM UTC

> The paranoid side of me suspects that a cable like this one would be an ideal place to hide a malicious chip.

Why hide a malicious chip in a cable with display -- why not in one without a display? Wouldn't that be more, uh, malicious?

Re: They make USB-C cables with displays now

#15

Post by theamk » Mon, Jun 17, 2024, 2:39 AM UTC

justinator wrote: post #8

Any good ones that would essentially replace a USB load tester? I'm thinking applications where I want to monitor power draw from a battery pack to say: a phone, or power being produced from a small solar panel (small, off the grid stuff)

I've been using the cheapest aliexpress cable ($1.79 for "100W" model) for a few month, and it seems to work fine for 40W charging of my laptop. The display is extremely useful, as the charge light is hard to see when the laptop is in the bag.

Re: They make USB-C cables with displays now

#16

Post by gumby » Mon, Jun 17, 2024, 2:43 AM UTC

> a cable like this one would be an ideal place to hide a malicious chip.

USB cables already have an mpu in them unless they are simply USB 2 cables with a type C connector.

Re: They make USB-C cables with displays now

#17

Post by gonesilent » Mon, Jun 17, 2024, 2:45 AM UTC

i_have_to_speak wrote: post #14

> The paranoid side of me suspects that a cable like this one would be an ideal place to hide a malicious chip. Why hide a malicious chip in a cable with display -- why not in one without a display? Wouldn't that be more, uh, malicious?

You can find them with full cell modems hidden in the cable end molding.

Re: They make USB-C cables with displays now

#18

Post by ffsm8 » Mon, Jun 17, 2024, 2:53 AM UTC

gonesilent wrote: post #17

i_have_to_speak wrote: post #14

> The paranoid side of me suspects that a cable like this one would be an ideal place to hide a malicious chip. Why hide a malicious chip in a cable with display -- why not in one without a display? Wouldn't that be more, uh, malicious?

You can find them with full cell modems hidden in the cable end molding.

It's hard to discern if you're serious or joking. Is that an actual thing? I couldn't find anything by googling

Re: They make USB-C cables with displays now

#19

Post by makeitdouble » Mon, Jun 17, 2024, 2:53 AM UTC

whycome wrote: post #4

moneywoes wrote: post #2

How do we know if these are doing something else?

How do you know for the cables without displays?

USB testers are cheaper now, I'd advise anyone to buy one preemptively.

It's nice to one-off check a new cable to know what it can be used for, with the additional benefit of seeing the power curves for the higher models (e.g. see a charger's power output drastically drop down as it overheats)

Re: They make USB-C cables with displays now

#20

Post by ffsm8 » Mon, Jun 17, 2024, 3:00 AM UTC

stavros wrote: post #10

infectoid wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If power is all you are looking for you can always play it safe with a USB Condom. e.g https://www.amazon.com.au/s?k=PortaPow

Keep in mind that this will limit you to 5V at 0.5A, if I'm not mistaken.

And realize that if you're distrustful of the cable, you should be even more distrustful of that gadget which has even more space to add malicious parts and you're still unable to check it.