Dire warning for why you should never share iPhone chargers
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A dire warning has been issued to iPhone users about sharing chargers. Ryan Montgomery, a cybersecurity professional, said a totally normal-looking iPhone charger may actually 'cause havoc on your computer or phone.'. That is because the insidious cable features a hidden implant with a web server, USB communications and Wi-Fi access, allowing it to capture keystrokes, steal credentials, exfiltrate data and even plant malware.
This deceptive hacker device, called the 'O.MG cable,' became publicly available in 2019 when it went on sale for just $180. In a video posted on his Instagram, he plugged what appeared to be an ordinary charger into a 'new' computer. 'This is a fully functional cable, you can still charge a phone with it,' he said.
But 'With this cable plugged in, I have full access to this computer,' he explained. Without even plugging his iPhone into the other end of the cable, he gained remote access to the computer by pressing a single button on his phone. '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,' the Hak5, which sells the device, stated on its website.
A cybersecurity professional has warned that a totally normal-looking iPhone charger may actually 'cause havoc on your computer or phone'. A 'Red Team' is a group of cybersecurity professionals who simulate real hacks. The cable's creator, security researcher Mike Grover, has said: 'It's a cable that looks identical to the other cables you already have.
