Hacker has assembled a USB cable suitable for attacking a computer

At the annual hacker congress Shmoocon , held in Washington last week, was shown the device TURNIPSCHOOL. This is a USB hub and a radio transmitter that fit into the USB cable connector. Such a device, being connected to the victim's computer, is able to track the data transmitted over the cable and transmit it with the help of a transmitter over the radio.

The device was created by amateur hacker Michael Osman , who is researching the security of wireless devices. He founded the Great Scott Gadgets resource, where layouts for hacking and listening to wireless communications are shared. Michael also participates in the NSA Playset project, where layouts and ideas of devices that duplicate gadgets that are in the possession of the NSA are laid out.

Interestingly, in December 2013, Spiegel magazine had access to the NSA secret catalog , where the tracking and wiretapping devices used by the agency were described in detail. Among other devices in the catalog, the USB cable for wiretapping Cottonmouth-1 was also mentioned. The device was offered at a price of $ 20'000 apiece. Osman, in the basement of his house, assembled a similar device independently from a $ 1.50 board, a USB hub on a chip, and a TI microcontroller with a built-in transmitter for $ 4. The total cost did not exceed $ 20.