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Researchers discover way to create trojans in USB hardware
Tech 1984 ^ | 7/6/2010 | Tech 1984

Posted on 07/06/2010 3:36:38 PM PDT by oc-flyfish

Wonderful, just one more way for our benevolent federal government to spy on us.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Government; News/Current Events; Technical
KEYWORDS: hacker; trojan; usb
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To: oc-flyfish

Most USB keyloggers out there already use the HID of a keyboard, been doing that for years. What’s new here?


21 posted on 07/06/2010 7:34:25 PM PDT by antiRepublicrat
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To: oc-flyfish

Jeez, that’s pretty serious, particularly since usb drives are so small - you’d have to carefully inspect the back-end of any computer you used that other people have had access to, like your computer at work, for instance.


22 posted on 07/06/2010 7:37:48 PM PDT by Oceander (The Price of Freedom is Eternal Vigilance -- Thos. Jefferson)
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To: snowsislander
I skimmed the paper, and I believe that a short summary is that a USB keyboard can be programmed to capture keystrokes and also can be setup to automatically type commands that can lead to compromise of data stored the system.

It's not just USB keyboards, it's any USB device:

Because the USB protocol relies on devices to properly identify themselves during enumeration, a USB Meta-Device could be programmed to identify itself as any USB device [9]. In this way, the USB Meta-Device could be configured to represent itself as a device associated with a vulnerable driver loaded on the network endpoint.

This is what happens when dumb devices get smart enough to be convenient. These days, the toaster wants its own static IP.

Not to worry, we'll soon be able to upgrade to the New Improved USB 4.0, Now With Fewer Unintended Channels!

Bah.

23 posted on 07/06/2010 7:47:32 PM PDT by TChad
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To: UCANSEE2

like using the cd caddie as a cup holder


24 posted on 07/06/2010 8:09:49 PM PDT by markman46 (engage brain before using keyboard!!!)
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To: markman46

What??? You mean the cup holder is supposed to be used for CDs??? Ya learn something new every day.


25 posted on 07/06/2010 9:22:44 PM PDT by oc-flyfish
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To: TChad
I believe that all that paragraph effectively means is that any USB device could identify itself (also) as a keyboard, and do the same trick of entering data to a command line or equivalent program.

Did you see anywhere in the paper where that subversion of USB identification is suggested for anything else useful? I didn't, although I haven't read it closely.

26 posted on 07/06/2010 9:28:44 PM PDT by snowsislander (In this election year, please ask your candidates if they support repeal of the 1968 GCA.)
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To: UCANSEE2
I cleaned my USB drive, but after I got it out of the dryer, it no longer worked.

Funny, mine survived the dryer.

27 posted on 07/07/2010 5:44:03 AM PDT by antiRepublicrat
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To: oc-flyfish

yep makes a great cup holder.dont make em like they used to snap real easy have to buy new sometimes


28 posted on 07/07/2010 6:10:14 AM PDT by markman46 (engage brain before using keyboard!!!)
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To: Marty62

It keeps a guy from rolling out of bed and falling onto the floor. Look at it as a blessing.


29 posted on 07/07/2010 2:55:25 PM PDT by B4Ranch (Remember, guys, the enemy is to the left.)
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To: Marty62

It keeps us guys from rolling out of bed and falling onto the floor. Look at it as a blessing.


30 posted on 07/07/2010 2:55:42 PM PDT by B4Ranch (Remember, guys, the enemy is to the left.)
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