Hacked Fast Charger Can Destroy Connected Devices

As if 2020 hasn’t thrown enough at us, Chinese researchers are now claiming they can hack into the firmware of fast chargers to melt your connected devices. Splendid.

Xuanwu Lab, a Chinese research unit, announced a technique called BadPower (apt title) that alters the firmware of fast chargers to melt or set your electronics on fire.

According to ZNET, the attack works by changing the charging parameters to give the receiving device more voltage than it can handle, causing all sorts of shenanigans.

And BadPower works quick, no special modifications required (other than the effected firmware), and it can even damage subsequent devices. The researchers tested out 35 fast chargers, and 18 were found vulnerable.

The good news is these tinkerers appear to be the white hat variety, and they claim that "most BadPower problems can be fixed by updating the device firmware."

Check out more here: https://www.zdnet.com/article/badpower-attack-corrupts-fast-chargers-to-melt-or-set-your-device-on-fire/