Study Says USB Devices May 'Leak' Info

    • tnn
    • Publish Date: Aug 16 2017 12:26PM
    • |
    • Updated Date: Aug 16 2017 12:26PM
Study Says USB Devices May 'Leak' Info

USB connections - the most common interface used globally to connect external devices to computers - are vulnerable to information 'leakage', making them even less secure than thought, a study has found.  Researchers from University of Adelaide in Australia tested more than 50 different computers and external USB hubs and found that over 90 per cent of them leaked information to an external USB device. 

"USB-connected devices include keyboards, cardswipers and fingerprint readers which often send sensitive information to the computer," said Yuval Yarom, research associate at the University of Adelaide. 

"It has been thought that because that information is only sent along the direct communication path to the computer, it is protected from potentially compromised devices," said Yarom. "But our research showed that if a malicious device or one that's been tampered with is plugged into adjacent ports on the same external or internal USB hub, this sensitive information can be captured," he said. "That means keystrokes showing passwords or other private information can be easily stolen," he added. 

Yarom said that this 'channel-to-channel crosstalk leakage' is analogous with water leaking from pipes. 

"Electricity flows like water along pipes - and it can leak out," Yarom said. "In our project, we showed that voltage fluctuations of the USB port's data lines can be monitored from the adjacent ports on the USB hub," he said.  Researchers used a modified cheap novelty plug-in lamp with a USB connector to "read" every key stroke from the adjacent keyboard USB interface. The data was sent via Bluetooth to another computer.  "The main take-home message is that people should not connect anything to USB unless they can fully trust it," said Yarom. "For users it usually means not to connect to other people devices. For organisations that require more security, the whole supply chain should be validated to ensure that the devices are secure," he said.  The long-term solution is that USB connections should be redesigned to make them more secure. 

Q: Readers, tell us what is your preferred mode of digital storage (USB, Hard-drive, or online apps like Dropbox)? And why?

 

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Comments

Dilsher Singh Chatha Bhavan Vidyalaya Panchkula

It''s astonishing to know that devices which we use very commonly are not good for us and can reveal our private information to others .

A . Laxmi Nadha Reddy ARMY PUBLIC SCHOOL, BANGALORE

well, I am suprised to know that usb leak useful information. in my case I prefer using using USB

Himanshi Dhawan Saffron Public School

I personally prefer online apps such as Dropbox as the mode of digital storage. We all are familiar with "

Himanshi Dhawan Saffron Public School

We all are familiar with "Cloud Storage" and such apps work on this principle. Huge amount of data can be stored on the internet and the best part being 24X7 accessibility.

kaushyik Velammal Matric Hr Sec School ..

this flabbergasting thing! To avoid these problems we should ban the USB device or use it carefully'' the government should also be aware to stop lot of cyber criminals who wants to hack the high security passwords in banks,IT offices etc.So I better recommend the government to ban it it check it regularly.

Hemalatha.G Sethu Bhaskara Matriculation Higher Secondary Scho

Very bad to know about it because I always use USBs. Almost of my friends use it. I now definitely should opt something safe!

Ved Mone City Pride School

I prefer USB easy to carry and it gives sufficient storage for my use like to transfer movies.

Bindresh Sharma M.B BHATIA ENG MED HIGH SCHOOL

Clean city

Bindresh Sharma M.B BHATIA ENG MED HIGH SCHOOL

Usb devices eye

Toril Jain AVALON HEIGHTS INTL SCH-

USB, because hard drives are not highly portable(they do not fit into pockets and are heavy) and cloud drives involve a lot of security procedures, You need to have your phone each time you log-in. That''s why I''d always prefer USB as external storage.

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