Monday 24 November 2014

NDM 25

http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/nov/21/e-cigarettes-malware-computers
Now e-cigarettes can give you malware

  • Any electrical device that uses a USB charger could be targeted in this way
  • Made in China e-cigarette had malware hardcoded into the charger
  • USB controller chips, including those in thumb drives, have no protection from such reprogramming
  • Stick to buying from respected e-cig brand, back up the content on the computer and ensure that the computer is protected.

E-cigarettes may be better for your health than normal ones, but spare a thought for your poor computer – electronic cigarettes have become the latest vector for malicious software, according to online reports. Many e-cigarettes can be charged over USB, either with a special cable, or by plugging the cigarette itself directly into a USB port. 
An e-cigarette charges from the wall.
I think that USB ports plugged into a wall socket or the port on a computer may become to primary way of the intrusion but, if so, that means that a cheap e-cigarette from an untrustworthy supplier gains physical access to a device.

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