Is USB Doomed? New Firmware Exploit Cannot be Fixed

[KillerCop311]

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/137809-USB-Malware-No-Fix-BadUSB-Exploit

I wonder how much cloud services are gonna cost now.

[Ad Bot]

[the hacker]

I keep all my research on USB flash drives. This is gonna be bad.

[ZombieDude]

butt services you say

[Muzzles56]

So this will only affect my USB drive if I plug it into an infected pc?

[ShadowsfeaR]

Gee, better not pick up any shady USB's!

[Satan From Wreck-It-Ralph]

wait
am i reading this wrong or does it affect all USB things

[Boink!]

wait so how do we catch it

[Blockzillahead]

lol guys before you read that article make sure to put your tin foil hats on. the nsa will infiltrate your rooster

[16-Bit Yoshi]

so, like, what are they planning to do with the BadUSB thing other than just control keyboards?

They gonna send your lovets to your grandma or something?

[-Setro-]

this is bad
this is really loving bad
and i just bought a 32 GB flash drive too

[Doomonkey]

How exactly does your USB firmware get rewritten?

[KillerCop311]

so, like, what are they planning to do with the BadUSB thing other than just control keyboards?

it isn't just that
they just said one notable hack

[Steve5451²]

Guys I'm pretty sure it's just modified usb dongles, not some infected usb viruses.

[pefu19]

>tfw using linux/mac

[GhostOfBetaTapes]

But... can the USB firmware be rewritten from a computer? And if it can, wouldn't the fix just be to make that firmware read-only? I'm pretty sure there are ways to at least prevent this, if not actually "fix" it. I mean, considering how ubiquitous USB is, this has a chance to be pretty bad, but there are ways to safeguard at least new hardware. if I can't change permissions on my own external drives, a malicious app can't change USB firmware. And if it IS just modified USB devices that have been hacked up, it's already a little ridiculous to think that any threat could spread too far.