[justinph]

This is a mostly useless article. Every computer with USB ports has this problem. If you want to use it as, you know, a computer, you're probably gonna need to plug some stuff into it at one time.

You could make the argument that now that it has one port, it's easier to secure because you only have to secure one side of the computer instead of two.

[zzleeper]

Are you kidding? It means that if you go to a coffes hop and plug your laptop, you can become compromised. Sure, random people in a starbucks won't, but it's a boon for industrial espionage!

[centizen]

Just wondering, how does that mean that? The way I understand things that is only possible if you use someone else's compromised power adapter.

I've never seen a coffee shop that supplied power adapters, it's always just a bunch of power outlets. I think your safe for now.

[TheLoneWolfling]

I see plenty of coffee shops with wall sockets with USB ports for charging. And they are typically being used. Same idea here.

[coldtea]

USB-C wall sockets? For charging laptops? I don't think so.

You're worrying for a coffee shop that doesn't even exist.

[TheLoneWolfling]

You could have said the same about USB wall sockets when USB first came out.

[loco5niner]

yet

[sharth]

So... bring your own charger? Does your coffee shop normally provide you a laptop charger?

[scott_karana]

Coffee shops and airports don't provide laptop chargers, but they do sometimes provide USB chargers, which are now the same thing!

[mvid]

Are the power requirements the same? My assumption would be that usb wall chargers wouldn't have the juice to keep your laptop battery at a steady state, let alone charge.

The provided iphone wall charger is 5 watts, the provided apple laptop charger is 60 watts.

[scott_karana]

I suspect airport chargers are more like 1 watt, but the problem is whether end-users will hook their laptops up to the insecure charger, not the efficiency or lack thereof :)

[AcerbicZero]

I disagree. The author makes it clear they're referring to the added weakness of having a device charge via a non-secure port as compared to the inherent insecurity of USB ports.

The added vulnerability is based on the ease at which people will plug in a strangers power cable compared to plugging in a strangers USB stick.

[centizen]

Saying it's useless is being nice.