Questions tagged [usb]

an industry standard used for connecting to and powering peripheral devices (keyboards, mice, cameras, printers, external hard drives, etc) from a computer or other USB capable device.

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Is there a safe way to use external display with USB Type-C laptops?

Somewhat related to Is malware or screen capture possible with iMac as external display?, where we investigate the possibility of a DMA attack through DisplayPort, nowadays, many machines don't even ...
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1 answer
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Methods to bypass Windows security policy: All Removable Storage Classes - Deny All Access

My partner recently got given work laptop and if you try and put in a USB mass storage device you get an error saying it is not allowed. Without having administrator access I assume this is via the ...
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1 answer
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Can a Logitech wireless headphone usb receiver be infected?

Can USB dongles/wireless receivers get a virus from a computer that has been infected? I imagine it’s no more vulnerable than say a usb mouse is? But since these Logitech usb devices like your mouse ...
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1 answer
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Strategies for dealing with threats from malicious USB thumb drives - apart from blocking it alltogether

There is plenty of discussion on how USB thumbdrives can be used for malicious purposes if one decides to go down that rabbit hole. One mitigation that is discussed in that context is to completely ...
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What kind of USB-based attacks can be prevented by a VM?

The answer provided to this question by forest has a good summary explaining the types of attacks that a malicious USB can do. Does USB redirection in a VM provide any protection against any of these ...
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1 answer
713 views

Format a probably infected USB, is it safest Ubuntu live or Ubuntu installed?

I have an USB drive that probably is infected. I have a PC where currently I have not any partition, just an "empty" PC and I have a CD with Ubuntu 22.04. I would like to copy USB data, ...
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How do I know when my USB was last accessed and if any multiple files were copied from it?? [duplicate]

I had forgotten my USB in the computer lab recently. I found it the next day. It contains my personal files. I wanted to know if it was accessed and if any multiple files were copied from it. Is there ...
0 votes
1 answer
194 views

SD card with the read only switch, can the SD card reader still get viruses?

Due to security reasons, I need an USB that has the switch to set it physically read only, because in this way I can be 100 % sure that it can't get infected when I connect it to an infected device. I ...
51 votes
7 answers
30k views

How to prevent BadUSB attacks on Linux desktop?

What can I do to protect my Linux laptop from BadUSB attacks as described by ArsTechnica here? Perhaps writing an appropriate AppArmor profile would help?
2 votes
2 answers
261 views

If I transfer files from a school computer to my own will the school have access to my computer?

I have some files I want from my school computer to my own computer and I want to know if I do will the school have access to my computer (Using a usb ofc) my school computer also has restrictions and ...
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Security by using USB NIC, USB to SATA adapter, etc

After reading libreboot FAQ i have some questions about USB 2.0 bus. There it is strongly recommended to use usb devices - USB network card and USB to SATA adapter (to connect HDD or SSD with it). The ...
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How safe is sharing keyboard & mouse between work laptop & my personal laptop

What I need to know is if my work laptop (remotely managed by Org) installs or tags some hidden software on any devices being plugged in to the USB (obvious security hardening on their own part) which ...
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How exactly are hidraw 'Billboard' devices interrogated?

I have some USBHub ( Ethernet + HDMI + USB + VGA). When it doesn't have anything connected it exposes to Linux operating system device: 'hiddev0, hidraw1' in opposite to HID mouse: which is visible as ...
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0 answers
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Is it possible to detect from where data was copied to my USB? [duplicate]

Someone had copied someone's private data onto my USB. Is it possible to detect from where or which system copied data to my USB?
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Does Windows 10 read/run/care about USB devices plugged in "Lock Screen" mode?

Whenever I leave my computer for the bathroom or anything inside the living space, I press WinKey + L to enter the "Lock Screen" mode. (If I go outside, I turn it off completely.) Let's say ...
2 votes
4 answers
5k views

Can malware spread through HDMI, Display Port or USB

I have to give a presentation at my university. In the room where I'm going to give the presentation, there is a projector with a HDMI, Display Port, or USB connection. I will have to plug one of them ...
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3 answers
227 views

Can the microsoft basic optical mouse be modified to contain spyware or a keylogger if the attacker had physical access to the mouse? [duplicate]

I was given a mouse by someone who now i realized would want to hack me. It is the Microsoft basic optical mouse v2.0. Can this mouse be modified to inject spyware and malware onto my laptop?
1 vote
1 answer
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How can we restrict users from copying "non-allowed" file types from USB?

We blocked USB ports on most of the devices using Intune. However, a subset of users requires USB access due to their job scope which requires them to copy images from their cameras to their PCs. Is ...
1 vote
1 answer
141 views

How can USB ports be dangerous? [duplicate]

I hear all this vague information about how USB ports are dangerous, because people can just stick in a stick with malware on it and Windows just happily runs it automatically, or something. It's so ...
6 votes
1 answer
299 views

Can USB host ports be dangerous in uncontrolled environments? Virus etc?

We have an Android device with 2 external USB host ports. Now I wonder what harm can be accomplished by an attacker with malicious intentions, provided that: The user can not access settings or any ...
1 vote
3 answers
441 views

Do standard USB chargers contain any OS or firmware that might be infected with malware?

I'd like to know if it is possible to figure out if the USB charger of my smartphone (more info below) contains any operating system or firmware which could be infected by malware. Let's assume I ...
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Proxy charge through powerbank at charging stations to avoid malware? [duplicate]

When I travel I see people using USB charging stations, however I don't trust them. Looking up on the subject, cyber security experts and government officials warn not to use them with a cable that ...
2 votes
2 answers
3k views

Could the USB-Receiver of a wireless mouse/keyboard be a security risk?

I bought a wireless keyboard and mouse from a no-name brand (made in China) with a USB receiver. I'm currently wondering if the USB receiver could be compromised in a way, that my computer could get ...
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1 answer
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Windows Security deletes my USB virus as soon as I plug it in

I am studying ethical hacking and I work in the cybersecurity department of a company. I have been testing a hacking program but some PCs delete this executable as soon as I plug in the USB and some ...
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2 answers
1k views

Can a program containing virus, used to flash USB firmware infect it despite formatting?

I was having problems with my Kingston 8GB USB drive (it kept saying "write protected"). I solved the problem by first using ChipGenius and then a program called "Restore v3.13.0.0". I downloaded from ...
1 vote
1 answer
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How does a device’s manufacturer’s webpage know that I just plugged in one of their products

I plugged in a wireless mouse receiver while browsing its manufacturer’s website. Browser settings that allowed sites access to USB devices were turned off. The manufacturer’s website, upon the ...
1 vote
1 answer
2k views

Requiring hardware key at boot-up on normal laptop

I am sure that a question like this already exists and has probably been answered. I just couldn't find any results (probably due to my inability to word my question correctly). We use laptops at ...
2 votes
2 answers
534 views

Is there software on Windows that will protect myself from devices like the "USB Rubber Ducky"? [duplicate]

I'm pretty sure a lot of you are familiar with the "USB Rubber Ducky", the USB stick that emulates a keyboard. Is there software for Windows that will prevent this type of attack, while ...
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Bluetooth USB device shows up as HID Keyboard. Is it safe?

I bought a USB Bluetooth adapter and my PC now has Bluetooth available, but while it's connected it is makes a "HID Keyboard" show up in my "Mouse, keyboard & pen" setting in ...
5 votes
1 answer
772 views

How can a user defeat anti-live forensics software?

Let's say I have a computer with full disk encryption which is logged and running, but I suspect it has anti-forensics software (eg. usbkill), which means that I risk compromising the integrity of the ...
11 votes
1 answer
3k views

Is all the alarmism around BadUSB really called for with respect to host devices?

I can understand why there was such a furor about BadUSB and indeed it poses a rather earthshaking threat to the base assumptions of many in their cyber security threat models. Things which many of us ...
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1 answer
3k views

Can a USB drive be tracked? [duplicate]

If I had a specific USB and I plugged it into one computer to download something and then plugged it into another computer to download more files/view the files/etc., would there be some kind of ...
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1 answer
399 views

Can a mouse contain viruses? [duplicate]

My mouse dongle was plugged into a laptop infected with a Trojan Virus, is it a possibility for the mouse dongle to be infected?
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296 views

Is it risky to let (trusted) Android devices connect to my computer over USB?

I'm wondering what security threats I should be aware of if I set up a testing farm (like STF) which will have several Android devices connected to PCs over USB. The Android devices will have USB ...
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3 answers
1k views

Are there tangible recommendations for USB drives to be disabled?

I am currently discussing / considering the possibility to disable access to USB drives (USB storage) on Windows machines. There are technical means to do this and I am trying to balance arguments ...
4 votes
3 answers
10k views

How to check if USB device isn't malicious?

Let's say I've got a generic, cheap mouse. It's a USB-device. Any USB-device may contain memory, so how to know if the manufacturer didn't embed any memory with malware software in a device? (on ...
3 votes
3 answers
11k views

Is there a USB exploit to bypass Windows password login?

I work for a small-medium company doing most of the IT tasks, including systems administration, network administration, and even developing in-house software. Recently, my boss (the CEO) told me that ...
1 vote
2 answers
421 views

I just found out about BadUSB. Should I worry about it although I bought my USB from official stores?

I want to prevent malicious program accessing my PC via USB. My thread is as follows: I'm just a regular citizen with a non-dangerous job. However I live in a country that didn't care about data ...
1 vote
1 answer
90 views

Is disabling USB data transfers still useful to protect a patched W10/11 workstation?

Assuming a threat actor would not have a huge amount of resources or is a script kiddie (he could not write a 0-day but he could buy a rubber ducky); in a Windows 10 environment, if the workstation is ...
14 votes
2 answers
13k views

Attacks via physical access to USB (DMA...?)

I wonder if USB can be exploited by someone with physical access to a reasonably secured computer. For example a kiosk, or a laptop attached to a desk. Obviously, the boot sequence should be secure (...
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1 answer
327 views

Is it safe to clone Tails to a used USB?

If one has a USB stick, originally from a trusted source and without hacked firmware, but one has used this USB stick with an unsafe system, then can it safely be plugged it into a Tails OS system and ...
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How does USB device run exe program when plugged in

Based on my research the best USB device can do is to trick the OS believing its device type A while it is device type B. However it can never auto install a custom driver or auto execute a program/...
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1 answer
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Will secure boot prevent any non signed firmware from running?

Wonder if secure boot can protect my computer from usb drives with infected firmware after Debian os is booted ?
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2 answers
588 views

Can an SD card (or microsd card) emulate an HID device?

In a similar manner to a usb rubber ducky, can one use an SD card to emulate an HID device (such as a mouse or keyboard)? If so, how could this be implemented, and how can it be protected against?
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What traces are left on a flash card reader after using it? [duplicate]

If one uses a micro SD card with a card reader on Windows, or on Linux, or on Android, would there be a way to forensically determine on which computer the card reader was used? I know OS can log ...
4 votes
1 answer
404 views

Can smart power meters read key presses on a wired keyboard?

Smart power meters are becoming quite prevalent. Question: Can a smart power meter (with patched firmware) read the keys pressed on a wired PS/2 or USB keyboard, connected to a desktop computer? What ...
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If a malware infects a usb, will formatting remove it? [duplicate]

My computer probably had malware. Decided to install linux and do a disc wipe using a linux distro called Pop!_OS (ubuntu based) Can a piece of malware/virus inject itself into an ISO According to the ...
2 votes
3 answers
2k views

Secure USB (unique identifier)

There is a requirement for an unattended, publicly-accessible machine that I have to only allow company-approved USB devices (e.g., USB mass storage, keyboard, mouse, Bluetooth, etc.,) and block all ...
2 votes
1 answer
1k views

USBlyzer - Safe Or Not?

I need to use a USB analyzer. I've been looking at a couple of different options. This one came up. As far as I can tell, it's not open source, but seems to be quite popular. Seeing that the data ...
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1 answer
2k views

Is bluetooth keyboard more secure than USB keyboard for a malicious firmware?

There are some threads talking about Bluetooth keyboard security. But I have a different concern. I will only need 4 keys from an external keyboard, Home/End/PageUp/PageDn keys. Because I use them a ...

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